Former India player turned veteran commentator Aakash Chopra has said that the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) could end their 18-year-long wait for an IPL trophy in IPL 2025. RCB beat the LSG in the final league match of the season to book their berth in Qualifier 1 as well.

In a video shared on his YouTube channel ‘Aakash Chopra’, he said, “Royal Challengers Bengaluru, you have reached Qualifier 1 after a long gap. You reached there in 2011, then in 2016, and now after that. It means you will play Qualifier 1 after a long wait of nine years. Interestingly, whenever they have played Qualifier 1 and finished in the top two, they have played the final.”

“They have qualified many times after 2016, but they used to be at No. 3 or No. 4, played the Eliminator, and didn’t reach the final even once. So, year No. 18, a twist is coming in the story. It might be ‘Ee Saala Cup Namde.’ They have booked their appointment with Punjab,” he further added.

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However, Aakash Chopra also added that the RCB have had many match-winners and an incredible away record in IPL 2025 as well.

“It’s enjoyable talking about the history RCB have created. They have had eight different Player of the Match winners. Jitesh Sharma was the Player of the Match in this match. They have won seven consecutive away games. It’s happened for the first time. No one is able to stop you,” he said.

“If we talk about the run chase, it was the third biggest run chase in this tournament’s history. If you are doing that, then you are a superstar team. If you look at it from your point of view, you had chased a 200-plus total only twice previously, and you did it here,” Aakash Chopra concluded.