Royal Challengers Bengaluru\u2019s decision to bring in Rasikh Salam for INR 6 crore ahead of IPL 2025 looked like a bet on upside. The early signs suggested a player with talent, but the real question was whether he could be shaped into a consistent match-winner in the franchise system.<\/p>\n
During RCB\u2019s title-winning run, Rasikh managed only two appearances and claimed a single wicket with Josh Hazlewood, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Yash Dayal already established as the main pace options. Yet the contract wasn\u2019t built for instant returns. The franchise view was that he belonged in the long-term plan, provided he received the right structure to turn raw potential into reliable output.<\/p>\n
Looking back at Rasikh\u2019s career up to 2025, the team management saw patterns that offered clues about what might unlock him. One clear theme was a familiar \u201cin one place, out the next\u201d cycle that had shown up fairly regularly for him in Jammu & Kashmir. On the advice of Krunal Pandya, he made a change of state and shifted to Baroda.<\/p>\n
The intent was straightforward: open the door to more playing time and help him build a more complete skill set. In other words, he would develop as a professional without getting stuck dealing with selection uncertainties or having to constantly prove himself across different formats.<\/p>\n
That stability also changed the way he approached his role within a group. With more space to grow, Rasikh began thinking like a leader\u2014guiding younger bowlers and sharpening his understanding of tactics rather than just executing deliveries. Jitesh Sharma, RCB\u2019s vice-captain, recognised that shift too, since he moved to Baroda alongside Rasikh with the same goal of improving his cricketing craft.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe abilities you\u2019ve seen have always been there,\u201d Jitesh said after Rasikh\u2019s 4 for 24 helped drive RCB to their fourth victory in five matches. \u201cHe has simply learned how to apply them more effectively. That comes when you have a strong coach, a mentor, and the right environment. You start understanding when a plan is required and when it\u2019s not.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe worked extensively on yorkers and slower balls. He knew the IPL was close, so you have to be spot-on and play with the right intensity. Mistakes will happen, but you rehearse so much that it becomes second nature. That\u2019s what allows you to perform when the pressure is on.\u201d<\/p>\n
Jitesh\u2019s read proved accurate. The \u201cmuscle memory\u201d wasn\u2019t born on Wednesday night\u2014it had been forming for a while. Earlier in the week at the Wankhede, there were moments hinting at it, while the Chinnaswamy offered confirmation that RCB were watching a bowler with far sharper tactical clarity than before.<\/p>\n
Rasikh completed the night with his best IPL figures\u20144 for 24. Of his 24 runs conceded, 10 came from slower deliveries and 14 from pace-on. The distribution mattered, but the bigger story was his intelligence: recognising exactly when to deploy each option and how to keep batters guessing on a surface that played into his strengths.<\/p>\n
RCB didn\u2019t hand him a full opening straight away; it took three matches for the opportunity to arrive, after they began with Abhinandan Singh. But after consecutive performances that forced attention, it now looks unlikely he\u2019ll be sitting out for long\u2014especially in a season that could end up defining his IPL career.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Royal Challengers Bengaluru\u2019s decision to bring in Rasikh Salam for INR 6 crore ahead of IPL 2025 looked like a bet on upside. The early…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":2970,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_yoast_wpseo_title":"RCB Rasikh Salam Deal: IPL 2025 Upside Explained","_yoast_wpseo_metadesc":"RCB\u2019s Rasikh Salam arrives for INR 6 crore\u2014was it true upside or a gamble? Here\u2019s what his early role suggests for IPL 2025.","footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2971","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-ipl"],"yoast_head":"\n