Former British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has revealed his heartfelt support for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) as they prepare to face Punjab Kings (PBKS) in the IPL 2025 final at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. As a result of his marriage into a Bangalore family, Sunak's affection for RCB has always been personal. His memories of the team, the fandom, and the family ties have been crafted over the years of his devotion towards the team.

Sunak emphasized that he proposed to his wife, Akshata Murty, in her native Kannada while jokingly saying he did not know how to speak it properly. His mother-in-law also got him an RCB jersey on the wedding day, which to Sunak was an indication of him being an RCB fan. It was after that he started supporting RCB and, to date, claims to watch them play live during his stint as Prime Minister of England.

Sunak claims RCB wins for him owing to the fact that he is their diehard fan and therefore became the UK Premier, and after they become UK Prime Minister fans on the downning st. Apart from that, Sunak said that his most favorite RCB player is Virat Kohli, a total legend whom he fervently supports the most. As exciting as it is, he does possess a signed bat by Kohli, which was a gift from S. Jaishankar. Beyond Kohli, he has high hopes for RCB’s English stars, Phil Salt and Liam Livingstone, urging the team to bring home their first IPL title.

Rishi Sunak on IPL’s Global Impact and Cricket Diplomacy

Sunak also lauded the IPL for transforming cricket globally. Sunak noted how the league has developed into a dream platform for players from all corners of the globe, contributing to a growth in benefiting English cricketers like Jacob Bethell. He also commended the Women's Premier League (WPL) for giving young girls the opportunity for the sport and for taking India's cultural reach across the globe.

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In a humorous interlude, Sunak noted how cricket has traditionally acted as a diplomatic bridge, noting the friendly banter with Australian PM Anthony Albanese during this past Ashes series. Sunak noted how cricket often sets a more friendly tone in talks with Indian PM Narendra Modi prior to discussing issues of significance. With the IPL final approaching, Sunak’s fervent support amplifies excitement and is inscribed with inspiration for RCB, who attempt to secure their first title.