As the 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL) season gets underway, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) is off to a great start, occupying the top position on the points table with two wins in as many games. Likewise, Delhi Capitals have started the tournament well, winning both matches played so far. In this entertaining context, former Indian opener Virender Sehwag has stirred the pot with his straightforward remarks about RCB.

In a viral clip shared online, Sehwag jokingly mentioned RCB as "gareeb". He comically said if you are RCB and have yet to win an IPL trophy, enjoy your time at the top of the standings, as you don't get to celebrate that every year. On Cricbuzz, Sehwag joked, "Gareebon ko bhi toh rehne de, photo le le thodi der. Pata nahi kitni der gareeb log upar rahenge."

Sehwag, known for his aggressive batting and comments, shared that the "gareeb" comments were about franchises that could not win an IPL trophy. He wanted to indicate that he did not mean they were financially "poor" or "cheap", as all IPL franchises are financially sound and earn millions or crores annually. 

Instead, he suggested that teams like Royal Challengers Bangalore, Punjab Kings, and Delhi Capitals (all franchises since the inaugural IPL season that have not received an IPL trophy) fall under the "gareeb" category. 

He noted, "What do you think, I was talking about money? No. They are all wealthy in terms of money. Franchises earn 400-500 crore every season. I'm not talking about that. The ones who haven't won a single trophy, I'm calling them gareeb."

Interestingly, the RCB, Punjab Kings, and Delhi Capitals are currently the only active IPL teams without a title. Lucknow Super Giants, new to the league (since 2022), are still building that legacy like RCB, Punjab Kings, and Delhi Capitals. Sehwag was certainly joking with this comment, but it highlights the competitiveness of the IPL and the search for the trophy that certain franchises have not achieved yet.