The Champions League returns a decade later
The Men’s Men’s Champions League Twenty20 is ready to come back after 11 years, renamed the club world championship. The potential renewal expected in September 2026 will bring together the champion teams of the large T20 leagues such as the IPL, PSL, BBL, SA20 and The Hunged. However, one of the biggest questions at the moment is the winner of IPL 2025, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) represents India in this world tournament?
Champions League format
Originally launched in 2009, the Champions T20 League (CLT20) was considered a version of Cricket in the UEFA Champions League in football. He saw Seven top-The T20 national teams of tournaments around the world participate in a tournament. However, the tournament was interrupted in 2014 due to a low commitment of fans and commercial challenges, including a massive loss of one billion USD reported by ESPN Star, its distribution partner then.
Now, more than a decade later, the idea was relaunched, with solid support from the main cricket tips, including the BCCI, the ECB and the CA. The next club world championship is expected to present winners from the Legue of the biggest T20 competitions around the world. However, there is no confirmation on the total number of teams to participate in the return League.
Who will represent India in the Champions League?
RCB was one of the pants to represent India in the relaunched competition, after winning their first IPL title in 2025 after 18 years of title drought, triggering a celebration not only in Bengaluru but through India. Between 2009 and 2011, the RCB had already played 15 games in the former Champions T20 League, winning seven and losing eight, in the 2011 edition final.
Will RCB play in the Champions League?
However, RCB’s participation is provisional, after the tragic Stampe which took place during the celebration of the team’s victory on June 4, 2025, outside the M Chinnaswamy Stadium. The incident resulted in the death of 11 individuals and was more than 50 injured.
A situation report published by the Karnataka government blamed RCB, its DNA Networks event partner, and the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) for the victory parade despite the police denial. The report mentioned the lack of formal authorization, inadequate planning and disinformation on social networks as the main reasons for the massive crowd of more than 3,000,000 people who led to the jostling.
BCCI again to make the final call
After the report, the discussions increased concerning the future participation of the RCB not only in the Champions League, but even in the future seasons of the IPL. There is no official declaration from the BCCI concerning a disciplinary measure.
With an ongoing CID survey and expected legal proceedings, RCB’s place in the club world championship is still not confirmed. In particular, the structure and planning of the international tournament will require a finalization long before the beginning of September 2026, which led to a quick decision to be made by the franchise and the board of directors.
Which team can play the Champions League instead of RCB?
If the RCB is ultimately considered inadmissible or withdraws from the tournament due to current surveys and legal complications, the Kings of Punjab, finalists in IPL 2025, could be online to take their place. If Punjab represents India in the competition, it will be their second time after having presented the 2014-15 season after being finalists in the 2014 IPL. In addition, generally, the current champions are eligible to participate in this tournament, there is therefore chances that the winner of IPL 2026 can play this league.
Frequently asked questions
When will the Champions League 2026 take place?
The expected return of the Champions 2026 League is in September.
Where will the Champions 2026 League take place?
There is no confirmation concerning the league country of accommodation.
Who are the winners of the Champions League?
So far, there have been five winners of the Champions League: New South Wales, the Indians of Mumbai (twice), Chennai Super Kings (twice), Sydney Sixers,
What is the new name of the Champions League?
The revised name of the Men’s Men’s Champions League Twenty20 is the world club championship
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