Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) fans buy merchandise outside the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on June 03, 2025, ahead of the IPL final against Punjab Kings being played in Ahmedabad.
| Photo Credit: MURALI KUMAR K
As Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) get ready to fight it out one last time in the final match of this year’s Indian Premier League (IPL) against Punjab Kings, fans back home are beyond excited. Many have been out on the road from Tuesday (June 3, 2025) afternoon itself buying merchandise, arranging screenings and some even taking out bike rallies with flags.
Hundreds of people gathered near the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, which is also the home ground of RCB to buy jerseys, caps, flags and other merchandise of the team.
“Whether RCB wins or not, today is a celebration,” said Vikram Jain, a long-time fan who attended every home game this season and was near the stadium. “But if we do win — it will be remembered for decades,” he added.
Aslam Sheikh, a jersey vendor operating near Cubbon Park said that sales of merchandise had picked up. “Everyone is wearing red, cheering, and celebrating. It’s good for business and for the spirit of the city,” he said.
With most restobars in the city arranging screenings of the match, crowds had started to gather on Church Street, Brigade Road and MG Road by 3 p.m. itself. With high hopes, Keerthana. V., who was at a restobar near Church Street with her partner to watch the finals, said, “Bengaluru is going to go bonkers if RCB wins and the joy from the victory will be contagious.”
More than 10,000 people are expected to gather in BGS Grounds in Vijayanagar where a screening of the match has been arranged.
Preparations in full swing for a viewing of the IPL final match, at BGS Ground in Vijayanagar in Bengaluru on June 3, 2025.
| Photo Credit:
Sudhakara Jain
Law and order arrangements
As the city gears up to watch the the final match publicly, Bengaluru City Police have made elaborate security arrangements to monitor law and order.
City Police Commissioner B. Dayananda said that since public viewing of the match through special arrangements have been made across the city, police have been deployed at strategic locations for the events to remain peaceful and to ensure law and order. “People have been requested to watch and celebrate the event without disturbing others,” he said.
Published – June 03, 2025 05:18 pm IST
