Why RCB failed to get the court to block Uber ad featuring SRH batter Travis Head

The Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) recently took Uber India to court over a viral ad featuring Australian cricketer Travis Head wanting to get it removed. However, the Delhi High Court has now refused to stop the ad from airing.

The ad that featured Travis Head, who plays for Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in IPL 2025, took a cheeky dig at RCB by changing their slogan and branding in a humorous context. RCB felt the joke went too far and took the matter to court, which has now refused to take their side, allowing the ad to run.

What was the ad about?

Uber released a funny ad to promote its bike service, Uber Moto. In the video, Travis Head, an Australian cricketer who currently plays for SRH, is called a “Hyderabaddie.” He is seen spray-painting the words “Royally Challenged” on a signboard for a fictional match between Bengaluru and Hyderabad.

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RCB felt that this phrase was a clear dig at them. They also claimed the ad used a twisted version of their famous slogan “Ee Sala Cup Namde” without permission. The ad went viral, getting over 1.3 million views on YouTube alone.

RCB argued that the ad hurt their reputation and mocked their team name and trademark. Their lawyer said Uber was using a modified version of the RCB brand just to promote their own service. According to them, this wasn’t just a joke, it was unfair and illegal commercial use of someone else’s trademark.

What did Uber say?

Uber disagreed and called the ad a piece of harmless humour. Their lawyer said it was all done in good spirit before an IPL match, and there was no serious intention to insult or harm RCB. They also said that the Indian audience has a good sense of humour and can clearly tell the difference between a joke and a personal attack.

Uber further clarified that they didn’t support just one team (SRH) and had no exclusive deal with them.

What did the court decide?

After listening to both sides, the Delhi High Court refused to stop Uber from showing the ad. According to Bar and Bench, Justice Saurabh Banerjee said that the ad was part of cricket banter and sportsmanship. It didn’t show any intention to defame or insult RCB and there was no clear trademark violation.

The judge also noted that no serious damage to RCB’s reputation was proven. The ad was protected under freedom of speech and commercial expression. The court also said that stopping the ad now would be unfair, especially when the IPL season is going on, and such light-hearted ads are common during this time.