Lakers era in RCB: Dynasty in the making, three-peat in sight

“Winning takes precedence overall. There is no gray area. Almost none.” – Kobe Bryant

That was the mindset that helped establish the Los Angeles Lakers’ dynasty in the 2000s after years of frustration. The Lakers are one of the most iconic teams in NBA history, dominating the 1980s with the likes of Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

But after 1988, the titles dried up. Despite reaching the NBA Finals in 1989 and 1991, the Lakers went through a 12-year championship drought. They landed Kobe Bryant in 1996 and brought in Shaquille O’Neal that same year, putting together a roster loaded with star power. However, the wait continued until 2000, when all the pieces finally clicked into place.

While Bryant and O’Neal grabbed the headlines, role players like Ron Harper and Robert Horry made sure to secure championships in the biggest moments. Then came another title. And more. It didn’t take long for the Lakers to complete the famous three-peat and establish one of the great dynasties in sports history.

Now you might be wondering why basketball and the Lakers are featured in an article about Royal Challengers Bengaluru and their second consecutive IPL title.

IPL 2026 FINALS: MAIN | SCORECARD

The answer is simple. RCB have finally discovered what it feels like to win. And now they want more.

Hunger is no longer about ending drought. It’s about building a legacy.

NO LONGER AN INDIVIDUAL TEAM

When you look at successful teams across sports, one player can take you so far.

Speaking of basketball, take the example of Allen Iverson and the Philadelphia 76ers. Iverson was their superstar and led the team to the 2001 NBA Finals where they ran into the juggernaut Lakers.

Over the years, RCB have found themselves in a similar position.

Virat Kohli has often borne the brunt of expectations. Even though the franchise had stars like Chris Gayle and AB de Villiers, there were long stretches where the team looked too dependent on one man.

No longer.

As Kohli himself said, he doesn’t have to do everything anymore.

“To have a group of guys where you feel like you’re going down, you don’t have to be the ones to pick yourself up every time. There are guys behind you and around you who can win cricket for you. We’ve got so many Man of the Match awards across the group as well,” Kohli said. Every player in the RCB team is a match winner in his own way. (Image: Reuters)

And the evidence is there for all to see.

RCB had eight different Player of the Match winners during the season.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar set up the bowling attack superbly, with Josh Hazlewood and Rasikh Salam providing excellent support. The trio combined for 52 goals during the campaign.

Then there was Rajat Patidar.

The skipper has been in beast mode throughout the season, scoring 501 runs in 15 matches at a strike rate of over 192 and smashing 42 sixes.

Krunal Pandya once again proved why he remains one of the most valuable spinners of the IPL. He played in every match, picking up 14 wickets at an economy rate of 8.41 while contributing 226 runs.

It was not a team that relied on individual brilliance.

It was a team that won with collective strength.

A SHIFT IN CULTURE

For the first 18 years of the IPL, RCB were often criticized for their mindset. This franchise became easy fodder for trolls whenever something went wrong.

But something changed when a new cycle began in 2025.
Patidar was named captain, but more importantly, RCB brought in players who understood how to win. A new culture was slowly but surely emerging in the locker room.

It is something Patidar himself touched upon after the final.

“I think the culture has changed, but I don’t know what it has been because I’ve only been playing since 2021. So there’s been a lot of change from there. A lot of change in the mindset of the players,” Patidar said.

The shift was seen almost immediately after their first title triumph.

Mo Bobat, RCB’s director of cricket, has made it clear that the franchise has no intention of getting comfortable.

“Because it’s been such a long wait to win that first title, I didn’t want it to feel like we’ve climbed our Everest,” Bobat said at the RCB Innovation Lab India Sports Summit last week. “I want us to feel like we’re not clinging to anything. We just wanted to climb, hunt.” Mo Bobat doesn’t want RCB to stay comfortable. (Image: PTI)

This mindset made all the difference.

RCB spent nearly two decades chasing their dream. Now that they have finally tasted success, they seem determined to stay on top.

THREE-PEAT LOAD?

No team in IPL history has won three titles in a row.

This RCB side may have the best chance yet to change that.

With Kohli expected to stay with the franchise for at least another season, they still have one of the biggest match-winners and leaders.

Patidar has shown why he should never be underestimated. Behind the calm demeanor is a captain who trusts his instincts and a batsman capable of ripping attacks.

Tim David and Romario Shepherd provide the finishing power. The bowling attack looks complete with Bhuvneshwar, Hazlewood and Rasikh while Duffy offers a quality backup.

Perhaps they could add another spinner in the auction and bring more competition for Jitesh Sharma in the middle order.

Other than that, there are very few weaknesses.

There may not be a more complete team in the IPL at the moment.

Like dominant Lakers teams, every player understands their role. Every player contributes.

And most importantly, everyone is pulling in the same direction.

However, the focus remains simple.

One game after another.

“We also know that we are strong. You can say that we focused on one match at a time. We never thought how well we were playing. We just kept focusing on our skills,” Jitesh said after the final.

The three-peat won’t be easy.

The other teams will reload. Form will fluctuate. Injury could occur. Momentum can disappear as quickly as it comes.

Dynasties are never built overnight.

But the belief inside this RCB dressing room is sky high.

And perhaps Hazlewood summed it up best when asked about the possibility of a third straight title.

“Yeah, I don’t see why not. Yes, absolutely.”

– The end

Issued by:

Amar Panicker

Published on:

June 1, 2026 10:00 AM IST