Former captain of the Indian team and five-time IPL-winning captain of the Chennai Super Kings franchise, MS Dhoni, shared his reaction to Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) finally winning the Indian Premier League (IPL) title in the IPL 2025 season.

While congratulating RCB on their historic victory, CSK fan favorite Thala confessed that, as a competitor, he could never have imagined another team winning the IPL.

During a recent fan interaction event, Dhoni was asked about RCB eventually winning the IPL championship in 2025 after an 18-year wait. The former India captain welcomed the success, commended the Bengaluru franchise's cricketing quality, and emphasized the team's fanbase's dedication despite years of heartbreak.

"If I'm part of CSK, I can't imagine any other team winning the IPL. But it was long-awaited, and they played very well. Big congratulations to them, and I said it even then. But the whole thing is, when you are a participant in the competition, you want your team to win. It doesn't always work in your favor, but what went wrong, and what can we learn from the other teams? That is also crucial in a tournament like this," Dhoni stated at an IndiGo event.

The 42-year-old also expressed gratitude to RCB's fans, who are thought to be among the most fervent in the IPL.

“Big congratulations to you. RCB fans have been brilliant. Every time there is a game, they come and support their team, even when the chips are down,” Dhoni said.

RCB defeated Punjab Kings in the IPL 2025 final on June 3 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. Rajat Patidar captained the RCB, replacing Faf du Plessis at the helm, and helped the management revamp their squad, which led to their maiden IPL win.