Rasikh Salam’s Remarkable IPL Journey: How Irfan Pathan’s Faith Turned Rejection into Royal Challengers Bengaluru Success Rasikh Salam Dar’s journey to the Indian Premier League has been defined by a combination of rejection, persistence, and a pivotal decision by former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan. His path from Kashmir trials to becoming a key player for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) highlights the role of mentorship and belief in shaping a cricketing career. The story of Salam’s rise is not just about his personal resilience but also about the transformative impact of Pathan’s faith in his potential. The turning point in Salam’s career occurred during a trial at the Sher i Kashmir Stadium, where he faced repeated disappointment. As a young fast bowler, he had attended multiple Under 16 and Under 19 selections but never made it past the top 30. Rejection had become a routine part of his life. During a trial in 2019, Pathan observed Salam’s brief performance. The 17-year-old bowled a slower ball followed by a quicker delivery, a combination that caught Pathan’s attention. Despite the brevity of his display, Pathan made a bold decision to push Salam into the senior selection group. This act of faith proved transformative. Salam seized the opportunity, delivering a hat trick in his first senior match, which marked the beginning of his ascent. Salam’s early career was not without challenges. He made his IPL debut with Mumbai Indians in 2019 as the youngest player at the time, but his progress was halted by a two-year ban due to a birth certificate discrepancy. This legal issue, which stemmed from an administrative error, forced him to rebuild his career with teams like Kolkata Knight Riders and Delhi Capitals.#royal_challengers_bengaluru #irfan_pathan #mumbai_indians #rasikh_salam #sher_i_kashmir_stadium
IPL 2026: Why Are RCB Playing Abhinandan Singh Before Rasikh Salam & Mangesh Yadav? Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) have opted to include uncapped pacer Abhinandan Singh in their playing XI for the first three matches of IPL 2026, despite retaining more expensive domestic fast bowlers Rasikh Salam and Mangesh Yadav. This decision has sparked discussions among cricket analysts, as Abhinandan, retained at his base price of INR 30 lakh, has been preferred over the two younger players who were acquired through the IPL 2026 mini-auction at INR 6 crore and INR 5.20 crore respectively. The inclusion of Abhinandan in the initial lineup follows the withdrawal of pacer Yash Dayal from the tournament due to personal reasons. RCB’s management faced the challenge of filling the void left by Dayal, leading them to select Abhinandan, who has emerged as a key bowler in their early matches. Despite his relatively low cost compared to Salam and Yadav, the team has prioritized his availability and recent performances over the more expensive options. Abhinandan’s rise to the playing XI can be attributed to his standout performances during pre-season training sessions. In intra-squad matches, he showcased his potential by dismissing Virat Kohli, a feat that caught the attention of the coaching staff. The 23-year-old right-arm pacer, hailing from Uttar Pradesh, made his IPL debut in 2026 for RCB after representing the Lucknow Falcons in the UP T20 League. His ability to consistently take wickets has been a significant factor in his selection. In the first three games of the tournament, Abhinandan has taken three wickets across three matches, including a two-wicket haul in one game.#ipl_2026 #royal_challengers_bengaluru #mangesh_yadav #abhinandan_singh #rasikh_salam
