‘Do you not give water to anyone…’- RCB youngster responds to trolls after missing out on game time in IPL 2025

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) youngster Swastik Chikara recently opened up about facing online trolling during the 2025 IPL season. Despite not getting a chance to feature in any match, he remained a part of the squad’s historic campaign.

Rajat Patidar’s team finally ended their long wait for silverware, securing their maiden IPL title after 18 years. The triumph was a memorable moment for the franchise, its players, and loyal supporters who had been waiting eagerly for such glory.

Although Chikara spent the season on the bench, he acknowledged both the criticism and support he received from fans. He emphasized that being part of a championship-winning side was a valuable learning experience, motivating him to stay focused and prepared for future opportunities.

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Swastik Chikara on Facing Online Trolling During IPL:

The 20-year-old cricketer drew attention during IPL 2025 for frequently being spotted near Virat Kohli, which led to trolling and jokes about him serving only as a “water boy.” Despite not making his debut, his presence around senior players was widely noticed by fans online.

Speaking about the criticism, Chikara addressed the matter during a podcast with CricXtasy, released on Sunday, September 7. He shared his perspective on trolling, explaining how he dealt with the comments while focusing on learning and growing as a young player.

Chikara said, “ Now tell me one thing. I wasn’t even playing, right? My job was to take care of the players, give them water, look after them, carry towels, or do anything else needed for the team. I just wanted to give my best, what’s the problem in that?”

He further said, “ That was my job, and giving water is a good thing. What’s wrong with that? At home, do you not give water to anyone, or wherever you are? In cricket, everyone gives water, who doesn’t?”

He added, “ For me, it felt great. I was giving water to the best players, the world’s number one player (Virat Kohli), with my own hands. He drank water from my hands. What could be better than that? I really enjoyed it, and he drank it.”

Virat Kohli shone as RCB’s leading batter, scoring 657 runs in 15 innings, showcasing his consistency and dominance throughout the season. His remarkable consistency included eight half-centuries, making him the side’s most reliable run-scorer throughout their historic title-winning campaign in the 2025 IPL season.

Swastik Chikara showers admiration on RCB captain:

Swastik Chikara praised captain Rajat Patidar, acknowledging his impactful leadership that guided RCB to their much-awaited IPL championship in his debut season as skipper, making the triumph even more remarkable. He highlighted the confidence and composure Patidar brought to the side.

Chikara pointed out that Patidar captained the team in 13 matches during the campaign, out of which RCB secured 10 victories while suffering only three defeats. He emphasized that Patidar’s leadership played a crucial role in shaping the squad’s winning mentality and overall success.

Chikara said, “ He showed really excellent captaincy. I mean, handling such a big team, and it was his first time captaining in the IPL, and he didn’t take any pressure at all. He managed everything very well, every decision happening in the match. It’s a huge thing, bro, and captaining RCB comes with its own pressure. The fan base is so strong that if you make even one mistake, anything can happen in two minutes.”