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Rishi Sunak and Wife Akshata Murty Strike a Pose With Virat and Anushka
Updated on: 04 June, 2025 02:32 PM IST |Amruta Karulkar
Rishi Sunak, Akshata Murty, Virat Kohli, and Anushka Sharma
The air in Ahmedabad buzzed with an electric charge on June 3rd as a beloved Bangalore cricket team finally clinched the premier league trophy after an 18-year quest. Adding a touch of international flair to the celebrations were former UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and his Bengaluru-born wife, Akshata Murty, who were spotted cheering enthusiastically from the stands.
Akshata Murty beautifully captured the sentiment, sharing the picture on Instagram with the caption, “What a night. What a match. What a moment for Bengaluru.”
Akshata Murty, daughter of Infosys founder Narayana Murthy and Sudha Murty, has deep roots in Bengaluru. Having been born and raised in the city, her allegiance to the local cricket team was proudly declared ahead of the nail-biting final.
In her heartfelt Instagram post, the 45-year-old expressed what the victory meant to the legions of fans. “To have been in Ahmedabad, witnessing Royal Challengers Bengaluru make history was something truly special!” she wrote. “From the electric energy at the ground to the celebrations echoing across Bengaluru, this victory means so much to all of us who’ve waited and believed.” She added, “Proud of this brilliant team and the city I grew up in.”
Fittingly, Akshata Murty concluded her tribute with the resonant Kannada chant that swept through Bengaluru post-victory: “Ee Saala Cup Namdu!” – which translates to “this year, the cup is ours”.
Also Read: Anushka Sharma Reacts to a Post Saying Armed Forces Are Real Heroes, Not Actors
His support isn`t a recent development. Sunak revealed he has been a fan since his parents-in-law gifted him a team jersey. “We used to go to matches a long time ago. Even when I was in office, I’d cheer for RCB at Downing Street,” said Sunak. His enthusiasm was evident as he was seen jumping and yelling from the stands during the final. Before the match, Sunak had even shared a photograph from the venue on X, captioning it "Let`s go" and tagging the Bangalore team. One of his "prized possessions", he mentioned, is a bat from Virat Kohli, gifted to him by Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar.
The presence of Rishi Sunak and Akshata Murty at the weekday match also sparked some light-hearted commentary online, with users humorously referencing Narayana Murthy`s well-known remarks about Indians needing to work 70 hours a week. "Narayana Murthy sir is not going to like this, it’s Tuesday, not even the weekend and you’re already chilling," one X user commented on Sunak`s post, garnering significant traction.
In October 2023, Mr. Murthy had stated on a podcast, “So therefore, my request is that our youngsters must say, ‘This is my country. I’d like to work 70 hours a week`."
Also Read: When Virat Kohli Credited Anushka Sharma After Scoring His 81st Century
Sunak also highlighted the league`s role in promoting women`s cricket and reflecting India`s growing global influence. "It`s been great for the women`s game, getting more girls into the sport. But it`s also a sign of the influence that India now has in the 21st century. India`s passions, India`s tastes now have global impact," he said.
This victory marked the Bangalore team`s first premier league title, despite reaching the final on three previous occasions. Their opponents, the Punjab team, were playing in their second final.
A Star-Studded Post-Match Celebration
Following the Bangalore team`s historic win against the Punjab team, the celebratory mood was palpable. Rishi Sunak and Akshata Murty joined in the revelry, posing for a memorable photograph with the Bangalore team’s biggest icon, Virat Kohli, and his wife, actress Anushka Sharma. All four were wreathed in smiles, sharing in the joy of a victory that was long overdue.Akshata Murty beautifully captured the sentiment, sharing the picture on Instagram with the caption, “What a night. What a match. What a moment for Bengaluru.”
Akshata Murty, daughter of Infosys founder Narayana Murthy and Sudha Murty, has deep roots in Bengaluru. Having been born and raised in the city, her allegiance to the local cricket team was proudly declared ahead of the nail-biting final.
In her heartfelt Instagram post, the 45-year-old expressed what the victory meant to the legions of fans. “To have been in Ahmedabad, witnessing Royal Challengers Bengaluru make history was something truly special!” she wrote. “From the electric energy at the ground to the celebrations echoing across Bengaluru, this victory means so much to all of us who’ve waited and believed.” She added, “Proud of this brilliant team and the city I grew up in.”
Fittingly, Akshata Murty concluded her tribute with the resonant Kannada chant that swept through Bengaluru post-victory: “Ee Saala Cup Namdu!” – which translates to “this year, the cup is ours”.
Also Read: Anushka Sharma Reacts to a Post Saying Armed Forces Are Real Heroes, Not Actors
Rishi Sunak: An Ardent Supporter the Bangalore Team
Former UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak also publicly backed the Bangalore team before their championship clash. His connection? “I`m married into a Bangalore family, so RCB is my team,” he was quoted as saying by the Times of India.His support isn`t a recent development. Sunak revealed he has been a fan since his parents-in-law gifted him a team jersey. “We used to go to matches a long time ago. Even when I was in office, I’d cheer for RCB at Downing Street,” said Sunak. His enthusiasm was evident as he was seen jumping and yelling from the stands during the final. Before the match, Sunak had even shared a photograph from the venue on X, captioning it "Let`s go" and tagging the Bangalore team. One of his "prized possessions", he mentioned, is a bat from Virat Kohli, gifted to him by Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar.
The presence of Rishi Sunak and Akshata Murty at the weekday match also sparked some light-hearted commentary online, with users humorously referencing Narayana Murthy`s well-known remarks about Indians needing to work 70 hours a week. "Narayana Murthy sir is not going to like this, it’s Tuesday, not even the weekend and you’re already chilling," one X user commented on Sunak`s post, garnering significant traction.
In October 2023, Mr. Murthy had stated on a podcast, “So therefore, my request is that our youngsters must say, ‘This is my country. I’d like to work 70 hours a week`."
Also Read: When Virat Kohli Credited Anushka Sharma After Scoring His 81st Century
Sunak on the Premier League`s Transformative Power
Beyond his fandom, Sunak also lauded the premier cricket league`s broader impact. "The IPL has transformed cricket. Every cricketer, everywhere, wants to play in the IPL at some point in their career now," he observed. He noted the improvement in players, citing an English cricketer as an example: "I was at Edgbaston last week watching England vs West Indies. Jacob Bethell played a brilliant innings. The IPL has improved him as a player."Sunak also highlighted the league`s role in promoting women`s cricket and reflecting India`s growing global influence. "It`s been great for the women`s game, getting more girls into the sport. But it`s also a sign of the influence that India now has in the 21st century. India`s passions, India`s tastes now have global impact," he said.
This victory marked the Bangalore team`s first premier league title, despite reaching the final on three previous occasions. Their opponents, the Punjab team, were playing in their second final.
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