India, June 3 -- Over the last several years, in the lead-up to and during every season of the Indian Premier League, a popular refrain has seized the Royal Challengers Bengaluru faithful. E sala cup namde (this year, the cup is ours) gradually went from a rallying cry to a phrase that attracted mirth, if not downright ridicule.

For 17 years, one of the most backed franchises in the competition tilted unsuccessfully at the windmills. To no one's surprise, they finished one place off the foot of the table in the inaugural edition in 2008, no surprise because of the 'Test' team they had assembled. A year later in South Africa, they reached the final, not because of a massive shake-up in personnel but because of a changed attitude, a bit of...