From Ee Sala Cup Namde to packed screenings: Bengaluru gears up for the finals

Bengaluru’s pubs, breweries and sports bars are preparing for one of the biggest cricket weekends of the year as fans gear up to watch the IPL final featuring the Royal Challengers Bengaluru on Sunday. Across the city, match screenings are expected to draw massive crowds, turning the weekend into a celebration of cricket, community and shared fandom.‘Match days completely change the atmosphere’Ajith Kumar, manager at one of the city’s breweries, says the excitement has already reflected in reservations. “We started getting reservations from Wednesday onwards for the weekend. This Sunday is definitely going to be extremely busy for us. People usually come in at least half an hour before the match begins. They settle down with their food and drinks, and once the game starts, the atmosphere completely changes,” he says. According to him, screenings during major cricket matches often feel like mini stadiums. “When RCB scores or takes a wicket, fans start screaming, cheering and celebrating together. It almost feels like a stadium inside the brewery,” he says.‘Reservations crossed expectations’The IPL final rush has already pushed reservations beyond expectations at several resto-pubs and breweries in the city. “We crossed 200-plus reservations for Sunday, so we had to temporarily pause bookings for a few hours,” says Jagdish, senior operations manager at a Bengaluru brewery. Unlike regular weekends where customers constantly move in and out, screenings keep fans glued to their seats for hours. “On normal Sundays, people leave after a while, but during finals, once they come in, they stay till the match ends. The hour before the game is always hectic because everyone wants food and drinks before the tension starts building,” he explains.‘Watching alone at home is not an option’For ardent cricket supporter Rishab Malde, finals are best experienced with fellow fans. “A final should be watched with a crowd. The atmosphere, the screaming and the tension feel much bigger when you’re surrounded by fans,” he says. He believes screenings create a unique sense of connection among strangers. “You may not know the people around you, but if everyone is supporting RCB, suddenly everyone celebrates together like friends. That atmosphere is only possible during screenings,” he says. Long-time fan Pavan Krishnamurthy says the emotional connection with RCB has only grown stronger over the years. “RCB is not just a franchise anymore. It has become part of life. At screenings, it never feels like strangers sitting together. Everyone becomes one big family supporting the same team,” he says. Pavan adds that match-day rituals are serious business for fans. “Same jersey, same seat, same routine — all of that becomes part of the experience,” he laughs.Where to watch the IPL final in Bengaluru- Arbour Brewing Company- Doff Estd. 2011- The Pump House- RCB Bar & Cafe- BOB'S Bar- The Bier Library- Buffalo Wild Wings