IPL : The Indian Premier League (IPL) isn’t just about cricket—it’s also a story of evolution, branding, and city pride. Over the years, some franchises have undergone official name changes to better reflect their identity, align with their home cities, or simply to refresh their brand.
Let’s take a look at three notable instances when IPL teams changed their names in the league’s rich history.
IPL Teams Changed Their Names
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1. Royal Challengers Bangalore ➜ Royal Challengers Bengaluru (2024)
In March 2024, ahead of IPL Season 17, one of the most iconic franchises in the league—Royal Challengers Bangalore—officially changed its name to Royal Challengers Bengaluru.
This shift wasn’t sudden. The city of Bangalore itself had been officially renamed Bengaluru back in 2014. Many fans and sports teams gradually made the switch, and RCB finally followed suit, aligning their franchise more closely with the city’s modern identity.
Nothing else changed—same ownership, same home ground (M. Chinnaswamy Stadium), and of course, the same undying fanbase!
2. Delhi Daredevils ➜ Delhi Capitals (2019)
The Delhi-based franchise made a major branding move in 2019, changing their name from Delhi Daredevils to Delhi Capitals.
The reason? The owners wanted a fresh start and a name that reflected the capital city’s stature and political importance. “Capitals” symbolized strength, leadership, and a new chapter. And it worked—the team saw a resurgence in form and fan following soon after the rebrand.
While the name changed, the ownership structure remained the same, and the core of the squad continued to evolve under new leadership.
3. Kings XI Punjab ➜ Punjab Kings (2021)
Before IPL 2021, Kings XI Punjab underwent a name makeover and became Punjab Kings.
According to the franchise, the new name was more inclusive and reflective of the entire state of Punjab, rather than just a select few. The goal was to connect deeper with their fan base across all corners of Punjab and simplify the name for global recognition.
The rebrand also brought with it a new logo and branding aesthetics—though the ownership, squad, and Mohali-based home ground remained untouched.
Honorable Mentions: Other Franchise Changes
While not all were simple name changes, some teams underwent complete overhauls:
- Deccan Chargers ➜ Sunrisers Hyderabad (2013):
This wasn’t just a name change—it was a full franchise shift after Deccan Chargers were terminated. The Sun Group took over ownership, but retained several players from the old squad. - Rising Pune Supergiants ➜ Rising Pune Supergiant (2017):
A minor name tweak for the temporary Pune franchise, which played in the 2016 and 2017 seasons. - Knight Riders ➜ Kolkata Knight Riders (2009):
A one-season experiment where KKR dropped the “Kolkata” from their name. It didn’t stick.
Name changes in the IPL often signal a fresh vision, city pride, or strategic rebranding. While the jerseys might change, the passion of fans—and the drama of the IPL—remains evergreen.
FAQs
Why did RCB change their name to Bengaluru?
To align with the city’s official name, which changed from Bangalore to Bengaluru
What was Delhi Capitals called before?
Delhi Daredevils
