Drake bets $1.3M on Royal Challengers Bangalore in IPL 2025 finale, says "Ee Saala Cup Namde"

Drake bets on RCB

Celebrated rapper Drake has added a surprising twist to the excitement surrounding the IPL 2025 final, publicly backing Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in their quest for a maiden title.

As RCB fights Punjab Kings (PBKS) at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, fans across the globe have rallied behind the team, with the phrase “Ee sala cup namde” (this year the cup is ours) once again trending across social media platforms. Drake, too, has joined the chorus — but with a million-dollar motive.

The Grammy-winning artist took to Instagram earlier in the day to reveal that he had placed a staggering $750,000 bet on RCB to win the IPL title on the popular betting platform Stake. At odds of 1.75, a victory for RCB would see Drake walk away with an impressive $1.312 million.

Captioning his betting receipt with the now-iconic Kannada phrase "Ee sala cup namde"

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RCB, led by Rajat Patidar, are determined to lift their first IPL trophy, having fallen short in three previous finals (2009, 2011, and 2016). On the other side, PBKS, captained by the in-form Shreyas Iyer, are also hoping to break their title drought. Both franchises have been part of the league since its inception in 2008, making this a high-stakes showdown not just for fans, but for the clubs’ legacies.

Also Read: IPL 2025 closing ceremony: Shankar Mahadevan and sons to honour Indian Armed Forces for Operation Sindoor

A star-studded presence in the stadium will add to the evening's glamour. Actor RJ Mahvash, who is rumoured to be dating spinner Yuzvendra Chahal, may also be present, and PBKS co-owner Preity Zinta is anticipated to applaud from the stands.

Virat Kohli's wife, Anushka Sharma, is also seen in the stands supporting her husband. The final looks to be a spectacular event, both on and off the pitch, with over 125,000 seats at the venue and a galaxy of celebrities anticipated.