After 18 seasons filled with heartbreaks, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) finally clinched their maiden Indian Premier League (IPL) title on Tuesday (June 3).

RCB edged out Punjab Kings (PBKS) by six runs in a thrilling IPL 2025 final at the Narendra Modi Stadium, sending fans into wild celebration.

RCB’s triumph also made fans and social media remember Vijay Mallya, who was the first owner of the franchise.

Speaking on a podcast, Mallya, who remains a wanted fugitive in India, revealed that he had bid for a total of three franchises, including the Mumbai Indians, a side that was eventually fetched by Mukesh Ambani.

After losing the bid on MI by the finest of margins, Mallya bought RCB for a sum of 112 million US Dollars, which translated to 600-700 crore back in 2008.

"I was very impressed with the pitch that Lalit Modi made to the BCCI committee about this league. He called me one day and said ok, teams are going to be auctioned. Are you going to buy it? So, I bid from three franchises, and I lost Mumbai by a very small amount of money," Mallya said on the podcast with Raj Shamani.

"When I bid for the RCB franchise in 2008, I saw the IPL as a game-changer for Indian cricket. My vision was to create a team that embodied the spirit of Bangalore—vibrant, dynamic, glamorous. I paid $112 million, the second-highest bid, because I believed in the potential. I wanted RCB to be a brand that stood for excellence, not just on the field but off it too. That's why I tied it to Royal Challenge, one of our top-selling liquor brands, to give it that bold identity."

It was Mallya who had signed the legendary Virat Kohli for RCB, before roping in other greats such as AB de Villiers and Chris Gayle.

During the candid chat, Mallya recalled buying Kohli in the auction. He said, "I handpicked players who could make RCB a powerhouse. My biggest pride was spotting Virat Kohli, a youngster from the Under-19 World Cup team. My inner instinct told me he was special, and I bid for him. Getting Rahul Dravid as our icon player was a no-brainer—he was Bangalore's pride. We also brought in global stars like Jacques Kallis, Anil Kumble, and Zaheer Khan. I wanted a mix of local heroes and international flair. My dream was to bring the IPL trophy to Bangalore, and I built the team with that goal."

"Shortly before the actual selection process, they were playing the U-19 World Cup, and I was very impressed with him. So, I picked him, and it's wonderful, 18 years later, he is still there. He was a young kid at that time when I got him, but you know, full of energy, great talent, and you know, one of the greatest Indian cricketers ever," he remarked.

In Vijay Mallya's presence, RCB's after-match parties used to make the headlines. Mallya has now revealed that adding glamour to his team was a deliberate attempt.

"I wanted RCB to be more than a cricket team. It was about creating a lifestyle brand. The after-parties, the cheerleaders, the fan engagement—it was all deliberate to make RCB the most exciting franchise. Kingfisher and Royal Challenge were sponsors, so we leveraged that to make every match an event. People called it flashy, but it was strategic. Bangalore loved it, and RCB became the city's heartbeat."

During the candid chat, Mallya revealed that his sole purpose behind buying RCB was to promote his whisky brand, Royal Challenge and there wasn't any cricket love behind it.