Royal Challengers Bengaluru defeated Punjab Kings by 6 runs in the final to lift their maiden IPL trophy on June 3.

He took the names of Mumbai Indians players Jasprit Bumrah and Suryakumar Yadav, Lucknow Super Giants captain Rishabh Pant, and Delhi Capitals star KL Rahul.

“If dreams could come true, Jasprit Bumrah, Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant and KL Rahul. If I had these four players, I wouldn’t need anybody else to win the trophy,” he told Raj Shamani.

While KL Rahul was part of Bengaluru, the three others never played for RCB. Since joining MI, Bumrah has never been auctioned, while the franchise has retained Suryakumar after his second homecoming. LSG bought Pant for INR 27 crore in the mega auction last year, while Delhi spent INR 14 crore on Rahul.

Mallya is credited for bringing Virat Kohli to RCB in 2008, and the player has remained with the team since then. He is the only cricketer in the tournament’s history to have played for the same franchise from day one.

“When I founded RCB, I dreamed that the IPL trophy would come to Bengaluru,” Mallya had written on his X profile after RCB’s win.

“I had the privilege of picking the legendary King Kohli as a youngster, and, remarkably, he has stayed with RCB for 18 years.”