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"ATR Wants Punjab": CSK Hero Ambati Rayudu Faces Backlash For Supporting RCB In Final

Rajgeeta Yadav

Ambati Rayudu backs Virat Kohli and Co to win IPL 2025 final [Source: @ExtraaaCover/x.com]Ambati Rayudu backs Virat Kohli and Co to win IPL 2025 final [Source: @ExtraaaCover/x.com]

Former CSK player Ambati Rayudu has shown support for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), led by Rajat Patidar, ahead of the big IPL 2025 final. RCB will face Punjab Kings (PBKS) in the final match at the Narendra Modi Stadium on June 3.

Punjab Kings finished at the top of the points table, with RCB right behind them in second place. In their last match, RCB beat Punjab by 8 wickets, thanks to a solid 56-run performance by Phil Salt. But Punjab come into the final full of confidence after a strong win against Mumbai Indians in the qualifier, where Shreyas Iyer scored a brilliant 87.

Ambati Rayudu Backs RCB To Win IPL 2025 Trophy

The rivalry between Punjab and Bengaluru is very close, both teams have won 18 matches each out of their 36 total meetings in IPL history. So this final is expected to be a very close and exciting match.

Rayudu posted on X (formerly Twitter), saying, "There has always been an amazing cricketing rivalry between the 3 great southern cities.. I think it’s time for the great city of Bangalore to win their first ever Ipl trophy tonight which they truly deserve to this season.. Go RCB.. bring it home.."

Fans had mixed reactions. Some jokingly asked Rayudu to keep up his “jinxing” powers, hoping his support would curse RCB’s chances, while others teased him by saying things like, “We don’t accept you as a Kohli fan” and “Deep down, ATR wants Punjab to win.”

Whichever team wins tonight, it’ll be a historic moment. Neither RCB nor PBKS has ever won an IPL trophy. Punjab lost in the 2014 final to Kolkata, while RCB lost in the finals of 2009 (to Deccan Chargers), 2011 (to CSK), and 2016 (to Sunrisers Hyderabad).

The winner will also break a long-standing record, the longest wait for a first IPL title. Right now, that record is held by Mumbai Indians, who won their first title in their 6th season (2013). In comparison, KKR took 5 seasons, SRH 4, and CSK just 3. Rajasthan Royals and Gujarat Titans won it in their debut seasons (2008 and 2022).