PV Sindhu hails RCB's back-to-back IPL title, jokes she's Bengaluru's lucky charm
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
Olympic medallist PV Sindhu joined the wave of celebrations following Royal Challengers Bengaluru's successful IPL title defence, posting a heartfelt and witty tribute on Instagram that honoured both the franchise's resilient fanbase and its long road to sustained glory.
Sindhu's Playful Lucky-Charm Claim
The two-time Olympic medallist, who has been based in Bengaluru in recent years, opened her post with a tongue-in-cheek observation. 'RCB fans, I am not saying I am the lucky charm. But I moved to Bangalore and suddenly you have won the trophy every year since. Do the maths. Huge congratulations to the incredible RCB team, the players, the staff, the ownership and the fans,' she wrote.
The self-deprecating humour landed well with fans, given RCB's decades-long wait for silverware before their recent back-to-back triumphs. Sindhu's Bengaluru connection added a personal layer to what was otherwise a city-wide celebration.
Tribute to Ananya Birla and the Ownership Group
Sindhu reserved particular praise for entrepreneur Ananya Birla and her family, who joined the franchise's ownership group ahead of RCB's recent run of success. 'To become owners and immediately win a championship is some serious main character energy. What a start,' Sindhu wrote, adding that she congratulated her 'dear friend' Ananya on the achievement.
The acknowledgement highlights the significance of the Birla family's entry into Indian cricket's most-watched franchise at a pivotal moment in its history.
The Heartbreak-to-Glory Arc
Sindhu captured the emotional weight of RCB's journey succinctly. 'This franchise has carried so much emotion, madness, heartbreak, belief and love over the years, and to see it become back-to-back champions is truly special,' she noted.
The sentiment resonated widely among fans who have followed RCB through multiple near-misses and final defeats before the franchise's recent title wins. Notably, this back-to-back defence marks one of the more dramatic turnarounds in IPL franchise history.
The Hyderabad Final That Never Was
The badminton star also acknowledged a personal wish that went unfulfilled — a final between Sunrisers Hyderabad, her hometown franchise, and RCB. 'Of course, a Hyderabad vs RCB final would have been the dream. SRH vs RCB would have emotionally destroyed all of us in the best way. But Bangalore, you deserved this. After years of heartbreak. Back-to-back champions,' she stated.
Sindhu's Form on the Badminton Circuit
On the court, Sindhu's campaign at the recent Singapore Open ended at the quarter-final stage, where she lost to world No. 1 An Se-young of South Korea. The Indian shuttler had shown strong form earlier in the draw, winning straight-games matches against Putri Kusuma Wardani and Riko Gunji before running into the top seed. Her Singapore Open run will be seen as a positive sign of form even as the defeat to the world's best player underlines the gap she is working to close.