KL Rahul, the celebrated cricketer from Karnataka, recently opened up about his journey in the Indian Premier League (IPL) and his connection with the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB). In a candid conversation on R Ashwin’s YouTube channel, Rahul admitted that as a Karnataka player, it would have been ideal for him to represent RCB.
KL Rahul’s love for Karnataka and RCB
Rahul’s cricketing journey began in Karnataka, and he made his IPL debut for RCB in 2013. However, the dynamics of the IPL, which involve player auctions and team strategies, led him to play for several franchises over the years.
Despite his journey across different teams, Rahul’s love for the Chinnaswamy Stadium, the home ground of RCB, remains undiminished. He referred to the Chinnaswamy Stadium as his home.
KL Rahul opens up about the RCB Fandom, being a Karnataka player & how he'd have loved to have played for RCB. Episode 3 of #KuttiStorieswithAsh is out on our YT Channel. Watch the full episode in the link below:https://t.co/2tkR4X67Un pic.twitter.com/oeoT8v7D4J
— Crikipidea (@crikipidea) April 18, 2024
“You can never change the fact that I am a Karnataka player, I am from Bengaluru. KCA is my home, Chinnaswamy Stadium is my home first and then IPL is happening. Everyone wants to play for their home state or their home city and since I am from Bengaluru, playing for Bengaluru would have been ideal,” Rahul said.
Rahul’s statement reflects the sentiment of many players who dream of representing their home state in the IPL. However, he also acknowledged the reality of the IPL, where players often move around different franchises. He cited examples of Virat Kohli, who is from Delhi but plays for Bengaluru, and MS Dhoni, who is from Ranchi but represents Chennai in the IPL.
“Like I said, when I started thinking or dreaming of IPL and T20 cricket, by then this was already a set thing that the players would move around. Like, even from the first season, Virat was from Delhi and Mahi bhai is from Jharkhand, Ranchi, he plays for CSK. So that had already happened. So growing up, we felt that it was a huge change,” KL Rahul said.
Despite the challenges of moving around, Rahul embraced the opportunities that came his way. His stint with Punjab Kings (PBKS) was particularly noteworthy, where he smashed the then-fastest fifty of IPL by completing the milestone in 14 balls against Delhi Daredevils (now Delhi Capitals). He also won the Orange Cap in IPL 2020, scoring a staggering 670 runs in the season.
In 2022, Rahul took on the mantle of leadership for the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), further showcasing his versatility. He was bought for Rs 17 crore by LSG ahead of IPL 2022, reflecting the faith the franchise had in his abilities.
Also Read: Glenn Maxwell is doubtful for the next big game against KKR in IPL 2024
 and his connection with the Royal Challengers Bangalore. In a conversation on Ashwin’s YouTube channel, Rahul admitted that as a Karnataka player, it would have been ideal for him to represent RCB.){kind=link}