Winning At Chinnaswamy...KL Rahul Opens Up About IPL Regret

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) came very close to winning their maiden Indian Premier League (IPL) trophy in 2016, however they fell just short against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in the final.

If RCB had won the title, the icing on the cake would have been that they would have lifted the trophy at their home ground, M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru. KL Rahul, who was part of the RCB team back then, has said that one of his biggest regrets is not winning the IPL at home, which he often discusses with Virat Kohli, who was the captain.

"Virat and I have spoken about it many times. If one of us had played a little longer and won that game, it would have been very different. And winning an IPL is so special. That 2016 season was very special for RCB. We were at the bottom of the table and had to win seven games in a row to qualify, and we did. We went on to win the eliminator and made it to the final," Rahul recalled on Star Sports.

"If one of us had stayed longer, it could have been a very different story. Winning at home in Chinnaswamy would have been unforgettable."

Rahul also acknowledged the role RCB played in his growth. At RCB, Rahul began to believe he could be a good white-ball player.

"Watching how Virat, AB, and Chris trained and approached the game was the best learning experience. I picked up so much from them — from fitness to mental toughness," Rahul, who is currently playing his trade at Delhi Capitals (DC), said.

"From 2014-15 onwards, I started believing I could succeed in white-ball cricket too," Rahul added.

Since leaving RCB, Rahul has gone on to lead Punjab Kings (PBKS) and Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) and is one of DC's main batters. Like RCB, Rahul too has never won the IPL yet.