Rasikh Salam Dar produced a standout spell of fast bowling to steer Royal Challengers Bengaluru to a comfortable win over Lucknow Super Giants in their IPL 2026 match on Wednesday. The four-wicket haul under pressure not only swung the momentum early, but also reinforced why RCB were willing to hold on to the Jammu and Kashmir pacer despite him missing out on a single appearance during the 2025 season.
From auction buy to long wait for a chance
- RCB had acquired Rasikh in the IPL 2025 auction for Rs 6 crore, viewing him as a longer-term option.
- Even though he did not feature in any match in 2025, it took three games of the current season for the franchise to finally give him an opportunity.
- In the opening phase of the campaign, Abhinandan Singh was selected ahead of him, delaying Rasikh’s debut moment for the side.
- That opportunity arrived against Mumbai Indians, and his impact against LSG on Wednesday became the clearest statement of his value.
How Rasikh’s spell shaped the contest
- Rasikh struck with early breakthroughs, dismissing Aiden Markram and Ayush Badoni to leave Lucknow struggling from the start.
- He then returned to trouble the middle order again by removing Mukul Choudhary when the youngster looked poised to build momentum.
- With the pressure rising, his yorker accounted for Avesh Khan, completing a decisive stretch that paved the way for Bengaluru’s comfortable finish.
A journey marked by setbacks and belief
The performance carried extra weight because Rasikh’s path to the IPL has not been smooth. He grew up in a schoolteacher’s home in south Kashmir’s Kulgam district, and his father, Abdul Salam, once described difficult phases in his early life, including rejection during selection trials.
In one of his reflections, Rasikh said he had “seen troubled times” and added that he never believed he had given anyone a reason to doubt him, while also noting that his children had never pressed him for explanations. He also acknowledged that many people had supported him, and that he had faced rejection in trials before believing that an opportunity would eventually come.
At a point, he even considered walking away from the dream, but family insistence pushed him to attend the Jammu and Kashmir U-19 selection trials. Those trials had ex-India cricketer Irfan Pathan leading the talent identification process.
Climbing the ranks, then hitting roadblocks
- After impressing in the youth setup, Rasikh was brought into the senior team group and continued to take part in camps and practice matches.
- The IPL call arrived soon after, with Mumbai Indians buying him in 2019 and giving him a debut as a teenager.
- His early progress hit a major hurdle when the BCCI imposed a two-year ban for submitting a faulty birth certificate.
- Rasikh later joined Kolkata Knight Riders in 2022, but injuries and poor form limited him to just two appearances in the tournament.
- Despite the setbacks, RCB continued to see promise in him, and his display against Lucknow on Wednesday validated that faith.
Rasikh’s father’s old words capture the theme of the story best: “Apne gaon ka naam uncha kar diya” — meaning he has made his village proud.
