The Indian Premier League (IPL) has long been defined by eras of dominance, but few chapters have been as dramatic as the rise of the modern Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB).
By securing a historic back-to-back title triumph puts them in the elite club alongside Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Mumbai Indians (MI) as the only franchises to ever successfully defend an IPL crown.
RCB captured their latest title through a clinical, masterfully executed final performance. Balancing a high-octane batting display with suffocating defensive bowling under immense pressure, they dismantled their opponents to prove that their previous championship run was no fluke. This squad has evolved from eternal underdogs into a relentless winning machine, establishing
a golden blueprint for tournament cricket.
With multiple silverware trophies now safely locked away in Bengaluru, one would assume that RCB has completely conquered every single facet of the IPL. However, a closer look at the tournament's historical record books reveals a fascinating twist.
Despite their recent absolute dominance and a locker room overflowing with medals, there is Two Trophy that RCB is yet to get. Royal Challengers Bengaluru has remarkably won every major individual and team accolade in tournament history, except for exactly two elusive titles.
To appreciate how unique RCB's position is, one must look at the awards they aren't missing, it confirms they have checked off almost every box in IPL history:
The Ultimate Silverware: Checked (including back-to-back championships).
Individual Dominance: They have historically taken home the Orange Cap, Purple Cap, and the highly coveted Most Valuable Player (MVP) award.
On-Field Fireworks: They have secured the tournament records for Most Sixes, nurtured stars to win the Emerging Player award, and cleared boundaries to claim the Super Striker crown.
Yet, two specific categories continue to slip through their fingers year after year.
The Fair Play Award
For all their tactical genius and explosive cricketing style, RCB remains on the list of teams yet to claim the Fair Play Award. Historically associated with a highly intense, emotionally charged, and fiercely aggressive brand of cricket, Bengaluru has often found itself embroiled in high-voltage on-field rivalries. While this raw passion and never-say-die attitude have endeared them to millions of fans globally, it has routinely cost them points on behavioural account. They share this vacant spot on the mantle with the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Lucknow Super Giants (LSG).
The Best Catch Award
The second missing piece of puzzle is the dynamic "Best Catch" award. Despite boasting some of the most athletic boundary riders and world-class supernatural fielders over the last two decades, an individual piece of aerial magic from an RCB player has never officially been crowned as the season's absolute best. RCB and Rajasthan Royals (RR) stand alone as the only long-standing franchises that have never taken home this fielding honours.
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