Rishi Sunak calls RCB ‘my team' as he backs Virat Kohli and crew for IPL 2025 glory
ET Online IPL 2025 Rishi Sunak supports Virat Kohli's Royal Challengers Bengaluru
Former British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has thrown his support behind Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) ahead of their IPL 2025 final against Punjab Kings, describing the team as 'his own' because of personal ties, ToI reported.
'I'm married into a Bangalore family, so RCB is my team,' Sunak told TimesofIndia.com. He recalled proposing to his wife Akshata Murty in Kannada, a language he admitted he hadn't quite mastered at the time.
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Sunak, currently in India to cheer for RCB as they chase their first IPL title, shared that his in-laws had gifted him an RCB jersey when he got married, and he has closely followed the team since then. 'We went to matches a long time ago and I used to cheer them on in Downing Street,' he said, mentioning that last year's campaign was especially exciting.
Sunak named Virat Kohli as his favourite player, calling him a 'total legend' and spoke proudly of a signed bat gifted to him by India's External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar during Sunak's time at Downing Street. 'It's one of my prized possessions,' he said. He also expressed confidence in the English players in the RCB squad. 'I'm also hoping for a big contribution from RCB's English contingent — Phil Salt, Liam Livingstone — let's bring it home,' he added, as the team gears up to play at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. Beyond his personal support for the team, Sunak praised the Indian Premier League for transforming the global cricketing landscape. 'The IPL has transformed cricket. Every cricketer, everywhere, wants to play in the IPL at some point in their career now,' he said. He also pointed to its impact on English talent. 'I was at Edgbaston last week watching England vs West Indies. Jacob Bethell played a brilliant innings. The IPL has improved him as a player.'
Sunak didn't leave out the women's game, crediting the Women's Premier League (WPL) for increasing female participation in cricket. 'It's been great for the women's game, getting more girls into the sport. But it's also a sign of the influence that India now has in the 21st century. India's passions, India's tastes now have global impact.'
He concluded by pointing to cricket's return to the Olympics in Los Angeles in 2028 after a century-long absence. 'Why is cricket back in the Olympics for the first time in 100 years? Because of India.'Sunak also spoke about cricket as a diplomatic bridge despite traditional rivalries on the field, drawing on his experience with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. 'Prime Minister Albanese and I always had great cricket banter — especially during the Ashes, where at one point it got a tiny bit heated, but all in a friendly way,' he said with a laugh. 'And Prime Minister Modi and I always had great cricket chat before we got down to business.''Cricket reminds you who your friends are and your shared passions. It puts everyone in the right frame of mind before you get down to the serious diplomatic stuff,' he added, looking ahead to India's upcoming tour of England. 'It's going to be a great tour and I know it will strengthen the partnership and friendship between our two countries.'
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