Westland Books has announced the acquisition of The RCB Story, a new book chronicling the journey of the Royal Challengers Bengaluru franchise, written by acclaimed cricket journalists Saurabh Somani and Shashank Kishore. The title will be published under the Westland Sport imprint and released in 2026.

Drawing on years of in-depth reporting and a nuanced understanding of cricket’s evolving ecosystem, Somani and Kishore trace the franchise’s 18-year journey — from near-misses and rebuilding phases to its long-awaited triumph. The book captures the emotional arc of a team that transformed from perennial contenders into one of the most followed and culturally resonant sporting franchises in the world.

Speaking about the project, the authors said, “RCB is unique in sporting history. The franchise was enthralling to us as fans, fascinating as journalists, and intriguing as chroniclers. The women have won two titles in four years. The men kept building teams of champion players for 17 years, until they found a champion team in year 18. This is the story of those 18 years.”

Publisher Karthika VK of Westland Books said the franchise’s narrative deserved a definitive account. “It’s the franchise that most deserves a narrative and it couldn’t have found better writers — both Saurabh and Shashank have lived and breathed cricket for years now, and know exactly where the story lies. I’m delighted to be publishing it in the Westland Sport imprint.”

Anish Chandy, Literary Agent at The Labyrinth Agency, added, “Westland is the right home for this deeply researched behind-the-scenes account of one of the most followed sports teams in the world by two expert cricket journalists.”

Saurabh Somani is a senior cricket writer who has previously worked with CricBuzz, Wisden India and ESPNcricinfo, and now writes freelance for major publications. He is known for his in-depth analysis across international cricket, the IPL and domestic tournaments such as the Ranji Trophy.

Shashank Kishore has been a cricket specialist since 2010 and currently serves as Senior Correspondent at ESPNcricinfo. His reporting spans Indian domestic cricket, women’s cricket and the IPL, with a focus on match analysis, player journeys and tournament coverage, including the Ranji Trophy and the Women’s Premier League.

Westland Books is an award-winning Indian publisher with a diverse catalogue spanning literary and popular fiction, business, politics, biography, spirituality, popular science, health and self-help. Its key imprints include Context, Ekadā, Tranquebar, Westland Sport, Westland Business, Westland Non-Fiction and Red Panda. In recent years, the publisher has expanded its offerings with Indie Press, a self-publishing imprint; IF, dedicated to speculative fiction; collaborations with Pratilipi Comics; and QD (Queer Directions), an imprint championing LGBTQIA+ voices.

With The RCB Story, Westland Sport continues to strengthen its growing sports publishing list, bringing readers an authoritative and deeply reported account of one of cricket’s most compelling franchises.