As the IPL 2025 season approaches, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) have found themselves at the center of a brewing controversy, seemingly taking a dig at Mumbai Indians (MI) over last year’s highly debated captaincy shuffle.
RCB recently appointed Rajat Patidar as their new skipper following Faf du Plessis’ exit. In a warm gesture, Patidar received messages of support from former RCB captains, including Virat Kohli and Faf, as part of his official unveiling. However, it was RCB’s Mr Nags who added a mischievous twist to the proceedings.
For those unfamiliar, MI made headlines last season when Hardik Pandya returned from Gujarat Titans and was handed the captaincy, replacing long-time leader Rohit Sharma. The move didn’t sit well with fans, triggering widespread criticism. Reports of a strained relationship between Rohit and Hardik only added fuel to the fire, with Pandya facing jeers from crowds across India throughout the season.
Taking advantage of the moment, Mr Nags threw a playful yet pointed question at Patidar in a video shared by RCB. He asked, “So, Rajat, you became captain, all former RCB skippers have given you their approval. Like Virat messaged you, Faf messaged you. Do you think other teams also should have followed a similar strategy while announcing captaincy?”
Patidar, however, chose to remain diplomatic, responding, “I’m sorry, I never followed what’s going on and what’s not going on.”
Not letting it go, Mr Nags quipped back with a knowing smile, “Oh, so innocent, Rajat. You really don’t know? Really, I don’t know? Then why are you smiling? See, basically, he said ‘MI nahi janta ‘MI’.”
The lighthearted exchange quickly went viral, igniting a meme fest on social media.
Hardik Pandya’s return to MI last year had already been turbulent, with the franchise finishing at the bottom of the table. Despite their glorious history, boasting five IPL titles, Mumbai Indians have struggled to regain their dominance since 2021.
While RCB’s jibe may have been in good spirits, it has certainly stirred conversations ahead of the new season. Will MI respond, or will they let the banter slide? Only time will tell.
