MS Dhoni demonstrated his status as a respected cricket figure when he congratulated Royal Challengers Bengaluru for their first Indian Premier League title victory which occurred in 2025. The legendary Chennai Super Kings icon delivered his assessment of RCB's performance and dedication to their fans shortly before IPL 2026 began. 

Dhoni balances rivalry with respect and praise

At a recent brand event Dhoni spoke about RCB finally achieving their championship victory after 18 years of unsuccessful attempts. Dhoni maintained his competitive nature by stating that he wanted his team to win all tournaments because he belonged to CSK. Dhoni showed respect to RCB by presenting their achievement with honest acknowledgment of their accomplishment.

Dhoni expressed his gratitude toward RCB players. The RCB fans have shown excellent support to their team throughout their entire history. RCB fans maintain their team support during matches despite the teams facing difficult times. His remarks created a strong emotional response among fans of different teams especially RCB fans who remained loyal to the team through difficult times. The rival legend praised their dedication which showed their deep love for the game.

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From historic glory to home-ground uncertainty

The RCB team achieved their first title victory on June 3 2025 when they won the final match against Punjab Kings by six runs at Narendra Modi Stadium. Rajat Patidar led the team which demonstrated exceptional self-control during the entire season while achieving multiple breakthroughs of enduring obstacles.

The joyful atmosphere soon turned into a situation of uncertainty. The M Chinnaswamy Stadium has not held any events since a fatal stampede occurred during the victory parade. The RCB team needs permission from officials before they can play their home games which makes their fans worry about IPL 2026 upcoming matches. Dhoni used his statement to show that respect and sportsmanship serve as essential values which define the IPL beyond its competitive nature and match outcomes.