With the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 season just around the corner, two former Pakistani cricketers have already started engaging in light-hearted banter, particularly directed at Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). This team, which features prominent Indian player Virat Kohli, is notably among the few franchises that have yet to clinch an IPL title. In a discussion, former Pakistan cricketer Rashid Latif commented that RCB stands little chance of winning the IPL as long as MS Dhoni continues to play.
Speaking on the ‘Haarna Mana Hai’ show broadcast by Pakistani media outlet Geo News, former cricketer Ahmed Shehzad joked that the only way for RCB to secure the trophy would be by including Pakistani fast bowler Mohammad Amir in their squad.
It was after this suggestion that Latif offered his ‘MS Dhoni’ related remark.
‘If Amir joins RCB, they might just win the IPL title,’ Shehzad had proposed.
‘As long as MS Dhoni is part of CSK (Chennai Super Kings), RCB shouldn’t even dream of touching the IPL trophy,’ Latif retorted.
Despite the playful exchange, it’s important to remember that current regulations prevent Pakistani players, like Amir, from participating in the IPL.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru is gearing up for IPL 2025 after an impressive turnaround in the previous season, IPL 2024. After languishing at the bottom of the table for a significant portion of the season, RCB staged a remarkable comeback, winning six consecutive matches to secure a playoff position.
This season will see RCB under new leadership. 31-year-old batsman Rajat Patidar has been appointed as the team’s captain, following the franchise’s decision not to retain Faf du Plessis prior to the IPL 2025 mega auction.
Leading up to the mega auction, RCB had retained only three players: Kohli, Patidar, and fast bowler Yash Dayal. In the auction, their most significant purchase was Australian fast bowler Josh Hazlewood for Rs 12.50 crore. Phil Salt (Rs 11.5 crore), Jitesh Sharma (Rs 11 crore), and Bhuvneshwar Kumar (Rs 10.75 crore) were also acquired for substantial amounts by the franchise.
RCB is set to begin their IPL 2025 campaign on opening day against the defending champions, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), at Eden Gardens in Kolkata.
RCB will be hoping to finally end their title drought in 2025, as they are one of the only three teams to have participated in every IPL season without ever winning the championship.
