Former Indian all-rounder Irfan Pathan feels the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) are the most devoted followers in the cricket world. He praised the franchise’s fans for sticking with the squad through thick and thin.
RCB hasn’t bagged an IPL championship yet. They reached the finals in 2009, 2011, and 2016. Pathan expressed surprise at their consistent fan backing, despite their lack of trophies.
Irfan Pathan spoke with Star Sports about the Royal Challengers Bangalore and their fans:
“I have never seen a franchise-fan relationship like RCB and their fans. They have the most loyal fanbase in the entire world. They haven’t won a single trophy. They came close a couple of times to winning that trophy.”
Irfan Pathan
Last year, RCB was on the brink of reaching the playoffs. Alas, Shubman Gill’s splendid century in the ultimate league match at Chinnaswamy Stadium terminated their journey. RCB ended in the sixth place, bowing out of the competition.
Virat Kohli and RCB winning the title will be biggest moment in IPL history: Irfan Pathan
Remember that extraordinary 2016 IPL season? That’s when Virat Kohli crushed it with a stellar 973 runs. He nailed it with an impressive average of 81.08, including four centuries and seven fifties.
Despite such massive performance, RCB did not secure the championship. Sunrisers Hyderabad beat them, winning by a margin of eight runs. Pathan considers Kohli’s potential IPL victory with RCB as a game-changer. He suggests it could be an unparalleled moment in IPL history. This is what he said:
“2016 was a very special season for him and RCB. I thought that was the year to win. If Virat Kohli and RCB win the title, that will be the biggest moment of IPL history, not just RCB history.”
Irfan Pathan
RCB made some shrewd additions to their IPL 2024 lineup by dealing Cameron Green and purchasing Alzarri Joseph at the auction. They will hope that 2024 marks the end of their trophy drought.