Screengrab of RCB post where part of the 2025 squad is visible
Credit: X/@RCBinHindi
Royal Challengers Bengaluru is facing flak on X after the IPL team put out a post in Hindi announcing the new team to fans after the auction ended yesterday.
"Presenting our strong team of IPL 2025 full of stalwarts", the translated post reads. Notably, the post in Hindi was put out from the social media handle which specifically distinguishes itself as Royal Challengers Bengaluru Hindi.
However, several Kannadigas objected to the post being in Hindi.
"Hindi has got nothing to do with Bengaluru, if you guys really want to reach other linguistic fans, you can do that through Kannada & English, not by associating hindi with Bengaluru. You guys should not forget your base of existence for outsiders' attention," one user said.
Another commented that the team was losing its fanbase, while yet another asserted that there was 'no need' and the 'page' needed to be deleted.
Yet another person online said, "Some people claim that Kannadigas are cruel to Hindi, but these people are not stopping at anything to impose the language.Our protest is not even very effective."
"Speak in kannada otherwise ban your franchise," a social media user exclaimed, while another ran with the hashtag #stopHindiimposition.
One user tried to rile up others on X urging them to "Report this page as spam." "Let us teach them a lesson," the user said.
Kannadigas protest over RCB's Hindi post on X.
Credit: Royal Challengers Bengaluru Hindi/X
"Tweet in kannada or we riot," another user threatened. However, some said "Hindi is baap of Kannada" and one observed that RCB might be aware that it has more fanbase in Hindi-speaking states than in Karnataka.
The RCB team for the 2025 IPL comprises of Phil Salt, Liam Livingstone, Jitesh Sharma, Swastik Chikara, Devdutt Paddikal (Karnataka player), Swapnil Singh (RTM), Jacob Bethell, Romario SHephard, Krunal Pandya, Tim David, Manoj Bhandage (Karnataka player), Lungi Ndgidi, Rasikh Dar Salam, Nuwan Thushara, Suyash Sharma, Mohit Rathee, Josh Hazlewood, Bhuveshwar Kumar, and Abhinandan Singh.
Last season RCB finished fourth in the IPL.
This row over the post not being in Kannada comes amid much dissatisfaction within the state regarding outsiders being unable to speak the local language.