Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) batter Venkatesh Iyer has hailed the franchise’s supporters as one of the most passionate and loyal fanbases in world cricket. Having previously won the IPL with Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in 2024, Iyer described RCB’s fan culture as an “out-of-the-world” experience, unlike anything he had encountered before.
In an exclusive interview with RevSportz Editor-in-Chief Boria Majumdar, Venkatesh reflected on the immense support RCB receives from fans across India.
“And as far as the fans are concerned, I’ve played a few finals before,” he said. “This one felt totally different, with due respect to Kolkata and other places. Fandom is something that I actually experienced when I came to Bengaluru. People from Delhi, Patna, Chennai, and even remote places are fans of RCB. And the love that RCB players, and even ex-players, get is really unbelievable.”
RCB acquired Venkatesh for ₹7 crore ahead of the IPL 2026 season. The left-hander had already experienced IPL success with KKR, but he played a different role during RCB’s title-winning campaign this season. Frequently used as an Impact Substitute, he had limited opportunities, but he made valuable contributions whenever called upon. He also opened the innings on three occasions, delivering impactful performances in crucial situations. Across seven innings, he scored 209 runs at an average of 52.25 and an impressive strike rate of 186.60.
Speaking further about the emotional connection between the franchise and its supporters, Venkatesh said: “People doing pujas and aartis for RCB so that RCB wins the final. People must have actually slept very peacefully last night knowing that RCB had won. This is fandom on a very, very different level. It’s something that I’ve never experienced before. So I’m really happy that I was able to be a part of something extraordinary. As I told you, I’ve touched the trophy once. I know how it feels. I know how happy people are. But this was out of the world.”
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The post “This is fandom on a very, very different level” – Venkatesh Iyer on RCB’s unmatched fanbase appeared first on Sports News Portal | Revsportz.
