Royal Challenger Bengaluru (RCB) remains one of the IPL’s most polarising franchises, with ‘RCB Ka Baap Kaun Hai’ becoming a taunt for the team because of its continuous defeat in the franchise. This phrase, if translated to english states ‘Who is RCB’s father?’, this is directly related to Chennai Super Kings as their unbeatable superior and RCB’s most dynamic player, Virat Kohli. Rooted in fan rivalries, it captures the emotional rollercoaster of RCB’s journey from 2008 to their near misses and finally winning their first IPL title in 2025.
In this Article we will get the answer to the most asked question: RCB Ka Baap kaun Hai?
Origin of the Phrase- “RCB Ka Baap Kaun Hai”
In 2016, the phrase “Who is the Father of RCB?” became popular on social media regarding the IPL. This was mainly driven by the fact that RCB had just lost their third IPL final, and even though Virat Kohli had an incredible season with 973 runs, other teams, especially CSK, would use this comment to poke fun at RCB. RCB was receiving all this attention, money, and support, but had yet to win the trophy.
The origin of the phrase is very street slang and is designed to show who is stronger or better. In memes posted in English, it could have a different meaning and portray CSK as being superior to RCB.
RCB’s IPL Journey
For RCB, the Indian Premier League (IPL) has been a roller coaster ride, with the phrase “RCB Ka Baap Kaun Hai?” now becoming part of RCB’s legacy, thanks to rival team fans, notably CSK’s fans, who used it to mock RCB because they have not yet won the championship despite having numerous elite players.
RCB had multiple opportunities to win championships during the time that Virat Kohli was captain, and his time is regarded as RCB’s greatest period (2011-2016). RCB consistently fell short of winning a championship.
RCB reached the final of IPL 2016 against Sunrisers Hyderabad and once again lost; during that time, RCB had invested a considerable amount of money in players and had several superstars on the roster, however, RCB was unable to achieve its goal.
After several years of being in limbo, Faf Du Plessis took the reins from Kohli and led RCB to their first championship title in IPL 2022, but that will not erase RCB’s history with CSK. Since CSK have a higher win percentage against RCB, the phrase will continue to be used in IPL conversations. Even though RCB has won a championship title, “RCB Ka Baap Kaun Hai” is still representative of RCB’s long and difficult journey to attaining success.
| Year | Key Achievement | Outcome |
| 2009 | First Final | Lost to DC |
| 2011 | Second Final | Lost to CSK |
| 2016 | Kohli’s 973 Runs | Lost to SRH |
| 2025 | Won for the first time | Won against PBKS |
RCB Ka Baap Kaun Hai: Is it CSK?
CSK received this title because the number of times they had defeated RCB was significantly higher. By the end of 2025, CSK defeated RCB in 21 matches compared to RCB’s 10 victories, including several critical playoff games.
CSK’s success was also aided by the leadership of MS Dhoni and winning five IPL Championships (2010, 2011, 2018, 2021, and 2023).While RCB made it to the finals of the IPL in 2009, 2011, and 2016, they did not win any of those games. The phrase got a rebirth in 2025 when RCB defeated CSK by 50 runs at Chepauk and won again to Punjab Kings in the Finals.
| Metric | CSK | RCB |
| Total Wins (by 2025) | 21 | 10 |
| Playoff Wins vs Rival | Multiple (e.g., 2011 Final) | Limited |
| Key Venue Dominance | Chinnaswamy wins | Chepauk 2025 (50 runs) |
Virat Kohli: RCB’s True ‘Baap’?
Virat Kohli is not only a known name for RCB but also the real deal as he is the captain of the team whose energy and passion put the spark into the game. Kohli has transformed RCB from being a team that never won any trophy into a real record-breaking machine with immense talent.
Kohli started playing for RCB in 2008 at age 19. By 2025, Virat Kohli had scored well over 8,600 runs with 8 hundreds and 63 fifties. His best season came in 2016 when he scored 973 runs and went on to win the Orange Cap while leading RCB to the finals. His batting and aggression were just magic.
When Kohli became captain of RCB in 2013, he took them to three finals. In 2025, Kohli finished the season with 657 runs. with one of those performances being the spectacular 113 not out in the final. This performance took RCB to the IPL title for the first time in 18 years of being close.
Even with CSK fans making fun of RCB, stating, “Who’s RCB’s real boss?” Kohli has proven them wrong. His phenomenal plays in 2025, especially at Chepauk, have shown everyone that he is the real deal for RCB. Kohli not only won the title but also made RCB into a 900 crore brand.
| Stat Category | Kohli’s Record (by 2025) | Notes |
| Total IPL Runs | 8,661 | Most for a single team |
| Matches Played | 267 (RCB) | Franchise record |
| Centuries | 8 | IPL all-time high |
| Fifties | 63 | Leads charts |
| Highest Score | 113 vs PBKS | 2025 standout |
Ownership and ‘Baap’ Angle
RCB founder Vijay Mallya is considered by many to be the original “baap” for launching the franchise in a large market with the funding from Diageo (via United Spirits), starting in 2014. Mallya’s troubles with Kingfisher Airlines have turned into a bit of a joke, but the financial resources of Diageo allowed stars to flourish, such as AB de Villiers, during that time.
The RCB team was very high-priced (supporting a lot of players) during Mallya’s tenure (2008 – 2014), and although they had spent a lot of money, the organisation did not win a single trophy during that period.
After the acquisition of RCB by Diageo, the organisation has operated with a more professional focus; however, it is still in search of its first trophy. Many fans are now joking about how Diageo is actually the “baap” of RCB for funding the organisation to obtain the best players, but not being able to provide a winning performance.
Fan Craze and Social Media Presence
As the RCB, also known as the world’s “Royal Family,” amasses over 50 million social media followers (more than any other successful team), they have some connection to Bollywood (primarily due to endorsements by Akshay Kumar) and an “underdog” image associated with them.
As RCB tries to push for the final couple of years, they have had to deal with memes like “RCB ka Baap Khatam?” circulating online to keep those memes alive when there hasn’t been a trophy yet.
RCB have very loyal and emotional fans, who have supported the team in all its ups and downs. Season 2025 has been the most heartfelt season for all the fans of RCB and the team as they finally won the cup after struggling for 18 years. The fans have heard so many taunts and hate comments, but never left the team. This shows the utmost loyalty and love for the players and team, and finally chanting aloud- ‘Ee Sala Cup Namde’.
