IPL 2025: RCB files case against Uber over controversial Travis Head advertisement

The cricket field isn’t the only place where Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) are fighting battles this season. The franchise has now taken Uber Moto to the Delhi High Court, claiming the company’s latest ad campaign has gone too far.

In a YouTube ad titled “Baddies in Bengaluru ft. Travis Head,” Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) star batter Travis Head is seen sneaking into a stadium ahead of a Bengaluru vs Hyderabad IPL match. Sporting gold chains and a white shirt, Head, nicknamed ‘Hyderabaddie, ’ spray-paints the signage to read “Royally Challenged Bengaluru,” a not-so-subtle jab at RCB.

The ad has gone viral, racking up over 54 million views on Instagram and 1.3 million on YouTube, but it hasn't amused RCB. The team’s management claims the phrase is a direct play on their trademark “Royal Challengers,” accusing Uber of using a deceptively similar variant in a mocking tone. “We have no issue with humor, but not at the cost of our trademark and identity,” said RCB’s lawyer, advocate Shwetasree Majumder. “There were a million other ways to make a fun ad without dragging our brand into it, especially by using someone who once wore our jersey.”

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Uber Fires Back: It's All Banter, Not Blame

Uber, represented by advocate Saikrishna Rajagopal, has dismissed the lawsuit as “preposterous,” arguing the ad falls under commercial free speech. Rajagopal emphasized that the ad never labels RCB as “baddies,” but rather portrays Head as simply “giving them a headache” on match day. “The phrase ‘Royally Challenged’ has already been used by media outlets and fans over the years. It’s cheeky, sure, but that’s part of cricketing banter,” said Rajagopal. “RCB needs to respond with humor, not lawsuits.”

Justice Saurabh Banerjee, after hearing both sides at length, reserved judgment on the plea for an interim injunction. While he acknowledged the ad could be interpreted in different ways, he noted that parody and commercial speech walk a thin line. While both parties await the court's verdict, the advertisement continues to trend online with fans torn between laughing it off and demanding accountability. One thing is for sure: off-field drama trumps anything that transpires on the IPL grounds.