RCB Pays Tribute to Puneeth Rajkumar At Unbox Event 2025, Embraces Kannada Culture

Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) paid a heartfelt tribute to Puneeth Rajkumar, at the RCB Unbox event held at Chinnaswamy Stadium on Monday. The event, which coincided with Puneeth's 50th birth anniversary, was attended by his brother, actor Shivarajkumar. A rendition of Bombe Helutaithe paid tribute to Puneeth, leaving fans emotional.

IPL 2025 Schedule: RCB's First Home Match Announced

The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 season is set to begin on March 22 at Kolkata's Eden Gardens, where Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) will face RCB in the opening match. The final will be held at the same venue on May 25. Meanwhile, RCB will play its first home game on March 28 against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) at the Chinnaswamy Stadium.

RCB's Tribute to Kannada Culture

RCB has previously faced criticism for allegedly sidelining the Kannada language and culture, with fans expressing their disappointment on social media. However, this year, the franchise made a conscious effort to honor Karnataka's heritage. The Unbox event featured Kannada songs, and the team paid a special tribute to Puneeth Rajkumar.

In a display of Kannada pride, the Karnataka state flag was prominently waved in the Chinnaswamy stadium. As singer All Ok performed a Kannada song, fans enthusiastically raised Karnataka flags, filling the stadium with local spirit. RCB's decision to hoist the Kannada flag was widely appreciated on social media, with many fans praising the franchise for recognizing the regional identity.

Virat Kohli's Message to Fans

RCB's tribute to Kannada culture received overwhelming support, with phrases like "RCB is Karnataka's team!" trending online.

During the Unbox event, Virat Kohli presented a special gift to RCB's new captain, Rajat Patidar. Expressing confidence in Patidar's leadership, Kohli stated that he believed the young cricketer would lead the team for a long time and urged fans to support him wholeheartedly.

RCB's squad for the upcoming IPL season features a strong mix of experienced and young players, including Virat Kohli, Phil Salt, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, and Glenn Maxwell. Kohli emphasized that the team is fully prepared to win its maiden IPL title this season.