Royal Challengers Bengaluru are having another disappointing IPL season, losing six matches in a row. With just one win in eight games, RCB sit at the bottom of the league table. Their hopes of finishing in the top four and qualifying for the playoffs are over. Despite being one of the most popular teams, RCB haven’t won any title to date.
Though the Bengaluru-based side have been in the IPL since its inception in 2008, they remain one of only three founding franchises yet to claim the title. RCB reached the IPL final three times. After reaching the 2009 final during the IPL’s sole season in South Africa, RCB made it to the title shot match in 2011 and 2016, but fell short each time.
In the 2009 final, Indian spin legend Anil Kumble captained RCB against the now-defunct Deccan Chargers. A 20-year-old Virat Kohli, batted at number six for RCB. Meanwhile, Deccan Chargers featured a young Rohit Sharma. Deccan Chargers batted first and scored 143/6. Kumble delivered a masterclass bowling performance, taking 4/16. However, Deccan Chargers fought back and stifled RCB’s chase. In a chat with Ravichandran Ashwin, Kumble admitted he still feels RCB missed an opportunity to win the maiden IPL title.
“I remember the many missed opportunities that cost us the game. We bowled several wides and no balls. Praveen Kumar bowled five wides alone, which really hurt our chances. Even with that, we should have chased down the 143 runs,” said Kumble.
RCB needed 15 runs of the last over. Kumble took a single on the first ball but Robin Uthappa wasted two balls.
“Even now, whenever I see Robin Uthappa, I say, ‘Robs, you should have hit that six. At the very least, you should have let me take the strike. RP was bowling and I kept begging you not to scoop, but still you went for it on the first ball,” he added he stated.
“I begged Robs that the bowler wouldn’t allow him to scoop and he should try to slog instead. But he went to scoop the third delivery as well. I was mad and said, ‘Enough! Give me the strike. I’ll try to slog and we might still have a chance.’ Unfortunately, we still lost by six runs. Whenever I see Robs now, I remind him of that missed opportunity.” he commented.
“You are a savage, Anil bhai,” said Ashwin, laughing. “I am, only in this regard, because you remember that,” said Kumble. “And since RCB haven’t won since then, you look back and think we missed an opportunity there.” he opined