Virat’s No. 18 and RCB’s 18th shot: Will the Cricketing Gods finally play fair?

Kohli, who has been the mainstay at RCB since 2008, the one who has lifted the team like a bag of bricks, is now in focus—not as the captain (he has been replaced by Rajat Patidar), but as the mascot who is the glory and the sorrow of the team. Kohli, the face of Royal Challengers Bangalore with 8,004 IPL runs, eight centuries, and a highlight reel longer than a Test match, he's the franchise's heartbeat. In the previous season, he picked up the Orange Cap with 741 runs, which proved that he can still burn up a track at 36. But the IPL title? That is the one ghost of the past that he has not yet been able to get rid of. “GODS, VIRAT DESERVES THIS MORE THAN ANYONE!!” a fan of X screamed. “The gods owe him!”

Season 18 meets Jersey 18—Will Destiny finally stop playing with RCB fans?

Phil Salt is a master of destruction, Josh Hazlewood cuts the air with a purring plane, and Bhuvneshwar Kumar's unconventional delivery could be the cure that RCB needs. Rajat Patidar, the new cricket team captain, is a bold option—he is young, hungry, and encouraged by Kohli's "you have this, bro" energy. "I am here to do nothing but to knock some big shots and shout Ra-Pa on," Kohli claimed the other day, probably with an RCB uniform on. The fans are loving it, but they are also quite willing to have been disappointed with this franchise in the past—will this be another "almost" story?

Season 18 Brings Destiny, Drama, and a Desperate Fanbase to IPL 2025

The air is charged with electricity. X is besieged by the avalanche of "Season 18 = Kohli's 18 = Trophy" witticisms, as if making calculations will give the team cricket matches. The schedule is packed—KKR, CSK, and MI will be the opponents played during the first 17 days—but if RCB endures that test, they will be able to sway the doubters. "The cricketing demigods have played with us a really long time," one diehard posted. “It's the time to rectify the situation, or else I would turn to football.”

So, here we are, March 18, 2025, with RCB's fans just dreaming big again. Is it time for the magic of the No. 18 to finally deliver? Or will Kohli and the crew lament their ill star over the 18th time? Only the gods not displaying themselves are certain: the memes will. Watch out—this could be both incredible and awfully sad. Regardless, this is RCB, and we are in for it to the end.

RCB at 18: Kohli’s ready, the gods are late—guess who’s bringing the cup home… or at least the memes?”