Rahul Dravid, now back in the thick of IPL action with Rajasthan Royals, couldn’t resist taking a light-hearted jab at his former team Royal Challengers Bengaluru, ahead of a crucial clash. Speaking at a pre-match press conference, Dravid highlighted the uncanny trend of ex-RCB players returning to haunt their former side, especially at their own fortress, the M Chinnaswamy Stadium.
With a wry smile, he commented that if his team has a former RCB player, they might as well slot him directly into the playing XI, considering how effectively such players have performed against Bengaluru in recent matches.
His remark wasn’t just casual humour; it subtly pointed to a growing phenomenon in the IPL 2025 where players like Mohammed Siraj, KL Rahul and Yuzvendra Chahal, all once part of the RCB squad, have come back to deliver impactful performances against their former franchise on home turf.
The so-called “Bengaluru return curse” is adding an unexpected twist to the season and Dravid who led RCB in their inaugural IPL season now finds himself in charge of a Rajasthan Royals unit desperate to break a four-match losing streak. With RCB’s shaky home record this year, Rajasthan sees an opportunity and Dravid’s tongue-in-cheek comment suggests he’s all too aware of the irony at play.
Beyond the banter, Dravid also weighed in on a more serious issue — the growing concern among franchises about diminishing home advantage. Several teams, including Bengaluru, Chennai Super Kings, Lucknow Super Giants and Kolkata Knight Riders, have voiced frustration over the nature of the pitches at their home venues. According to Dravid, this isn’t entirely unexpected in the first season following a mega auction.
He pointed out that with squad reshuffles, many players find themselves unfamiliar with their “home” stadiums, reducing the traditional edge that home games offer. He illustrated this using example of Rajasthan’s Nitish Rana and Bengaluru’s Phil Salt. Despite being associated with these teams now, they are new to the respective grounds and conditions. Rahul Dravid noted that while these players may be representing their new franchises at home venues, the lack of long-standing familiarity plays a role in neutralising the advantage typically associated with playing on home soil.
As Rajasthan prepares for a must-win encounter that could reignite their IPL 2025 campaign, all eyes will be on whether the trend of returning stars outshining their old teams continues. For Dravid and the Royals, a win is not just about points, it’s about keeping their campaign alive.
