RCB fans don't want MI in final? Netizens share 'cheating' controversies, umpire decisions & owner influence ahead of Qualifier 2
As the cricketing world gears up for a blockbuster clash between Punjab Kings (PBKS) and Mumbai Indians (MI), fans of Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) have made their feelings clear¡ªthey don¡¯t want MI in the final.
It's Qualifier 2! Table-toppers Punjab Kings (PBKS) are set to face five-time champions Mumbai Indians (MI) in a high-stakes showdown that will determine who earns the right to meet Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the IPL 2024 final at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. MI arrive with serious momentum¡ªeight wins in their last ten matches have transformed them into a formidable force. With a history of rising to the occasion, MI are no strangers to knockout success. PBKS will be wary of this ever-charging team and will hope to stop them to secure a place in the final.
A ???????? Clash ???
¡ª IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) June 1, 2025
A ???????? Venue ??
And all to play for in #Qualifier2 ?@PunjabKingsIPL ? @mipaltan - Who will blink first? ?#TATAIPL | #PBKSvMI | #TheLastMile pic.twitter.com/wvHacgsaDj
But while the cricketing world gears up for a blockbuster clash, RCB fans have made their feelings clear¡ªthey don¡¯t want MI in the final. And it¡¯s not just because Mumbai are tough competitors. The distrust runs deeper. Many in the RCB fanbase have pointed to past controversies and what they perceive as questionable decisions involving the MI camp¡ªbe it umpiring calls or broader issues of fairness with the influence of their owners.
Here are some of the videos and incidents circulating that have RCB fans questioning MI's fair play in the IPL.
R Ashwin's take on MI
Chennai Super Kings (CSK) spinner R. Ashwin, in a video with journalist Vimal Kumar, pointed out that Mumbai Indians (MI) always seem to get lucky in crunch situations. Recalling a specific incident from the 2018 IPL season¡ªwhen he was leading Punjab Kings (then Kings XI Punjab)¡ªAshwin highlighted a moment that still baffles him.
He shared, "I've seen one thing about Mumbai Indians¡ªevery single time, something happens. In 2018, I was leading Punjab against MI. They were 80-odd for five wickets in 13 overs. They weren¡¯t anywhere in the game. Suddenly, the floodlights lost power and we had a 20-minute break. When play resumed, Kieron Pollard went ballistic, and they ended up scoring around 180¨C200 runs."
Ashwin added, "Of course, you earn your luck. But MI always gets lucky. We need to find out how they keep getting so lucky."
One of the biggest indian cricketer saying this openly but they want us to believe all those ambani allegations are just social media memes.? https://t.co/5r7BV1Pjr0
¡ª Vaibhav (@Vaibhavtweetz) May 31, 2025
The no-ball not given in 2019
In 2019, MI clinched a 6-run win in a nail-biting final-over thriller against RCB at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. However, the Rohit Sharma-led side¡¯s victory was overshadowed by a major umpiring blunder. With RCB needing 6 runs off the final ball, Lasith Malinga overstepped¡ªbut the umpire failed to call the no-ball. MI walked away with the win, but controversy erupted immediately after the match.
A visibly furious Virat Kohli didn¡¯t hold back while slamming the officials. ¡°We are playing at IPL level, not club cricket... That¡¯s just a ridiculous call off the last ball. The umpires should have their eyes open¡ªit was a no-ball by an inch. It¡¯s a completely different game altogether. So if it¡¯s a game of margins, I don¡¯t know what¡¯s happening. They should have been more sharp and more careful out there,¡± Kohli said during the post-match presentation.
In an era of so much technology and with so much at stake NO BALLS should never ever be missed .... #JustSaying #IPL2019
¡ª Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) March 28, 2019
Virat Kohli unhappy with umpire's decision vs MI
During another controversial moment in IPL 2018, then RCB captain Virat Kohli was involved in a heated exchange with the umpires in a match against MI. In the penultimate over, Chris Woakes bowled a sharp delivery that beat Hardik Pandya, prompting a caught-behind appeal from wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock. The on-field umpire gave it out, but Pandya opted for a review. Replays showed a faint spike on UltraEdge, suggesting the ball had brushed the bat.
However, the third umpire ruled there was no contact and overturned the decision, granting Pandya a lifeline. A frustrated Kohli protested the call, firmly believing the evidence confirmed an edge and that the original decision should have stood. The incident added to growing concerns over inconsistent umpiring in high-stakes matches.
When Faf du Plessis recounted the MI vs RCB toss incident
Before the SRH vs RCB clash in IPL 2024, then RCB captain Faf du Plessis was seen chatting with Pat Cummins, seemingly recounting the controversial toss from the MI-RCB match. In that incident, MI skipper Hardik Pandya flipped the coin so high that it landed behind everyone, prompting match referee Javagal Srinath to retrieve it.
Du Plessis's animated conversation with Cummins quickly went viral on social media, with many fans convinced he was referencing the toss controversy. The moment further stoked ongoing discussions around the MI-RCB fixture and added to the sense of tension heading into another knockout match.
Now, as MI prepare to face PBKS in Qualifier 2, RCB fans are hoping the Punjab franchise can halt Mumbai's charge¡ªso that RCB, already in the final, might finally have a fair shot at lifting the IPL trophy and ushering in a new champion in 2025.
Karen Noronha is a versatile journalist with a passion for sports and K-pop. With over 7 years of experience at publications like IBTimes UK, DNA, and OTTPlay/DesiMartini, she seamlessly transitions between covering global athletic events and the dynamic world of K-pop.
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