'RCB se ummeed nahi thi...': Irfan Pathan praises RCB's iconic comeback after dismal start

RCB secures playoffs with comeback

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) achieved a memorable comeback by defeating Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in Bengaluru, securing their place in the IPL playoffs on Saturday. Despite losing seven of their first eight matches, RCB, led by Faf du Plessis and inspired by Orange Cap holder Virat Kohli, who scored 708 runs, won six consecutive matches.

This remarkable turnaround pushed CSK out of contention and made RCB the first IPL team to qualify for the playoffs after such a poor start.

Former India allrounder Irfan Pathan highlighted the significance of RCB's resurgence. He noted on Star Sports,

"This season has been iconic for RCB. You didn't expect this from them because their bowling unit is not that strong."

An unreal comeback deserves special praise! One of our #IncredibleStarCast members, @IrfanPathan, feels this is the most iconic #IPL season for Bengaluru!What are your thoughts?| #RCBvRR | WED, May 22, 6:30 PM | #IPLOnStar pic.twitter.com/uI0Hnwmbvk
— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) May 19, 2024

Pathan emphasised the rarity and significance of RCB’s achievement, given their relatively weak bowling attack compared to other top teams. He praised Kohli, du Plessis, and the entire team for their exceptional performance, describing the season as unforgettable.

The league phase concluded with Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) topping the table with 20 points, followed by Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) and Rajasthan Royals (RR), both with 17 points. RCB finished fourth with 14 points, ahead of CSK, Delhi Capitals, and Lucknow Super Giants on net run rate.

This placement means KKR and SRH will compete in Qualifier 1, while RR and RCB will face off in the Eliminator. The winner of Qualifier 1 advances directly to the final, and the loser will play against the winner of the Eliminator to determine the second finalist.

Celebrating six, manifesting nine!Here's what our fans at @rcbbarcafe had to say about our historic win against CSK last night, on @bigbasket_com presents 12th Man TV. #PlayBold #ನಮ್ಮRCB #IPL2024 #RCBvCSK pic.twitter.com/QsBtPcOzAa— Royal Challengers Bengaluru (@RCBTweets) May 19, 2024

Reflecting on RCB's season, Pathan remarked on the psychological toll of losing multiple matches and the incredible resilience required to recover.