IPL 2025: Virat Kohli Takes A Cheeky Dig At RCB Fans Over Their Strange Number 18 Superstition

For a team that has never lifted the IPL trophy, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) has one of the most passionate fanbases in all of cricket. Every season, the chants grow louder, the red and gold glow brighter, and the belief—however battered—manages to resurrect itself. And in IPL 2025, that hope is riding higher than ever before.

But no one expected Virat Kohli, the heartbeat of RCB for nearly two decades, to deliver a moment that would simultaneously evoke laughter, introspection, and a renewed sense of optimism—all in the span of a few seconds.

In a light-hearted yet revealing interaction with the ever-hilarious Mr. Nags, Kohli gave fans a glimpse into his candid thoughts about RCB’s title hopes, the long wait for glory, and the rejuvenated spirit coursing through the team this season.

The Chat That Broke the Internet: Kohli and Mr. Nags’ Viral Moment

The long-standing tradition of Mr. Nags (played by comedian Danish Sait) trolling RCB players in humorous behind-the-scenes segments is something fans cherish almost as much as the cricket itself. Over the years, these episodes have revealed the lighter, more human side of superstars like AB de Villiers, Chris Gayle, and, of course, Virat Kohli.

This time, during an RCB media shoot in early April, Mr. Nags sat down with Kohli for a casual chat about the team’s 2025 campaign—and things quickly turned memorable.

With a cheeky grin, Nags said:

“Virat, this year RCB fans are really feeling it! The vibe is different. Everyone’s saying 2025 is our year!”

Kohli, smirking and tilting his head, shot back:

“Were you not feeling it till now? It took 18 years to feel it? What about 17, 16, 19?”

It was a line only Virat Kohli could deliver—equal parts teasing, self-aware, and emotionally layered. For fans who’ve experienced heartbreak in 2009, 2011, and 2016 finals, the comment hit home. But it also made them smile. Because if Kohli can still laugh about it, maybe the dream isn’t dead just yet.

Kohli ended on a hopeful note:

“I think it’s a good reason to be in a good space and be positive.”

The internet exploded. Hashtags like #18YearsAndCounting and #ViratWithTheMic began trending. Fans flooded social media with reactions ranging from self-deprecating memes to heartfelt messages about their undying loyalty.

The Elusive Trophy: RCB’s Love Affair With Hope

RCB has always had the star power. From Rahul Dravid and Jacques Kallis to AB de Villiers, Dale Steyn, Chris Gayle, and Faf du Plessis—there’s never been a shortage of big names. And yet, the IPL trophy has remained painfully out of reach.

Finals That Broke a Million Hearts:

2009: Lost to Deccan Chargers
2011: Defeated by Chennai Super Kings
2016: A Kohli-AB de Villiers masterclass season, but fell short to Sunrisers Hyderabad in a nail-biter

Add to that a few bottom-table finishes and a handful of playoff exits, and the emotional toll becomes clear. RCB fans have built their identities around being “the loyal ones,” who stick through the memes, the banter, and the tears—always hoping that next year is the year.

And now, in 2025, that hope feels different.

RCB 2025: A Different Beast

Four Away Wins, One Message: We’re Here

This year, the Red Army has turned a corner—especially in away matches. In one of the most unexpected developments of the season, RCB has won all four of their away games, and not against weak opposition.

They’ve beaten:

Kolkata Knight Riders at Eden Gardens
Chennai Super Kings at Chepauk
Mumbai Indians at Wankhede
Rajasthan Royals at Jaipur

Each of these victories wasn’t just a match won—they were statements. Especially given RCB’s traditional struggles on the road. The team looks more balanced, more strategic, and most importantly, more mentally resilient.

King Kohli: The Anchor, the Flame

You can’t talk about RCB 2025 without talking about Virat Kohli’s rebirth at the top of the order.

After a lukewarm 2024 season that drew criticism about his strike rate and adaptability in T20s, Kohli has silenced doubters with a vintage display in 2025. So far:

Runs: 248 in 6 matches
Fifties: 3
Strike Rate: 145+
Average: 49.6

What’s more noticeable is his intent from ball one. There’s aggression, but it’s calculated. There’s energy, but it’s channelled. Kohli is no longer just the face of RCB—he’s their engine once again.

“When he scores, the stadium breathes,” one fan posted on X (formerly Twitter) after his 67 off 38 against CSK at Chepauk.

The Support Cast That’s Stepping Up

While Kohli remains the centrepiece, RCB’s success in 2025 has been about more than just one man.

Cameron Green has emerged as a true all-rounder, providing crucial overs in the middle and finishing games with the bat.

Rajat Patidar is turning into the reliable No. 3 the team desperately needed.

Mohammed Siraj has rediscovered his rhythm with the new ball, swinging it both ways and nailing yorkers at the death.

Reece Topley has been RCB’s secret weapon—extracting bounce on flat decks and providing the early breakthroughs.

And perhaps the most underrated shift? The bowling strategy. No longer reliant on brute pace alone, RCB has embraced match-up-based planning, rotating spinners like Karn Sharma and Glenn Maxwell tactically.

Faf du Plessis: Calm Leadership in the Eye of the Storm

As captain, Faf du Plessis continues to be a calming influence. While Kohli’s passion remains unmatched, Faf brings a composed, tactical edge—allowing the team to adapt on the fly. His smart usage of bowlers, field placements, and rotational batting orders has contributed massively to RCB’s early momentum.

In a post-match interview, Faf said:

“We’ve been known as entertainers. Now we want to be winners. The belief is real.”

RCB Fans: Hope, Heartbreak, and the 18-Year Wait

What makes RCB’s journey unique isn’t just the cricket. It’s the relationship with their fans—a bond forged through years of hope and heartbreak.

There’s a certain poetry to the fact that 2025 is RCB’s 18th year in the IPL, and Kohli wears jersey number 18. Naturally, fans have taken it as a sign—a cosmic alignment of destiny.

Memes, graphics, and tweets like:

“18 years of wait. No. 18 leading us. It’s written in the stars.”
“Virat lifting the IPL trophy in Year 18? This is cinema.”

And even Mr. Nags’ infamous jab:

“Bro, 18 is your lucky number, the universe is syncing. You are the trophy.”

The Road Ahead: Can RCB Break the Curse?

It’s still early days, and the IPL is a long, brutal tournament. Injuries, form dips, and momentum swings can change everything. But there’s a palpable shift in RCB’s aura this year.

Unlike past seasons where they often relied on a few superstars to pull them through, this RCB team feels like a unit—well-balanced, grounded, and hungry.

Their next few fixtures include home games at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium—where the crowd becomes a 12th man. If they can sustain the away form and translate it into home dominance, a top-two finish is well within reach.

The Year of 18?

When Virat Kohli laughed and said, “Took 18 years to feel it?”—it wasn’t just a joke. It was a mirror held up to every RCB fan’s journey. A reminder of the pain, the patience, and the unbreakable hope that defines what it means to support this team.

And yet, his words ended not in mockery, but in belief.

“It’s a good reason to be in a good space and be positive.”

As we cross into the middle of IPL 2025, Royal Challengers Bengaluru may not have destiny on their side just yet—but they have something more powerful:

Form. Faith. And Virat Kohli in beast mode.

So maybe, just maybe… this is the year.

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