(Image source: X.com)
[Saba Sports News] Former India cricketer Irfan Pathan extolled the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) supporters, terming the franchise’s fanbase as the most “loyal” in the world.
Notably, RCB is currently one of the three IPL teams to not have won the trophy even once. They have played three finals in 2009, 2011 and 2016, but could never lay their hands on the title.
Despite their trophy-less streak, the RCB fanbase have grown with each season, painting the town red from stadiums to social media.
“I have never seen a franchise-fan relationship like RCB and their fans. They have the most loyal fanbase in the entire world. They haven’t won a single trophy. They came close a couple of times to winning that trophy,” Pathan said as quoted on Star Sports.
Pathan talked about the 2016 season when RCB lost the final to Sunrisers Hyderabad. Their star batter Virat Kohli scored 973 runs that year, the most by any batter in a single IPL edition.
The cricketer-turned-commentator stated that if RCB win the trophy, it will be biggest moment in the IPL history.
“2016 was a very special season for him and RCB. I thought that was the year to win. If Virat Kohli and RCB win the title, that will be the biggest moment of IPL history, not just RCB history,” Pathan opined.
IPL 2024 is expected to begin in late March. RCB, led by Faf du Plessis, will aim to end their trophy hunt this time around.