Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s successful IPL title defense has placed Kashmir fast bowler Rasikh Salam Dar firmly in the national spotlight after the young pacer delivered a match-shaping three-wicket spell in the final against Gujarat Titans.
While Virat Kohli’s unbeaten 75 dominated headlines, cricket followers in Kashmir celebrated another story unfolding quietly in Ahmedabad — that of a fast bowler from South Kashmir’s Kulgam district making his mark on the biggest T20 stage.
Rasikh Salam Dar, born on April 5, 2000, hails from Ashmuji area of Kulgam district and represents a growing generation of Kashmiri cricketers seeking space in Indian cricket beyond traditional barriers. A right-arm fast-medium bowler known for pace variations and deceptive slower deliveries, Rasikh’s cricketing roots lie in local tennis-ball matches and grassroots cricket in Kashmir.
In 2018, Rasikh emerged through domestic cricket for Jammu and Kashmir and soon attracted attention for his raw pace and temperament. He made his List-A debut in the Vijay Hazare Trophy before entering the Ranji and T20 circuit for Jammu and Kashmir.
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At just 17, Rasikh became the third cricketer from Jammu and Kashmir to secure an IPL contract when Mumbai Indians picked him during the 2019 auction. He later became the youngest player to debut for the franchise, an achievement that suddenly transformed him into one of Kashmir’s most discussed sporting prospects.
Soon after his IPL debut, Rasikh’s career suffered a major setback when the BCCI imposed a two-year suspension following discrepancies related to his birth certificate documentation. For many young athletes such interruptions prove career-ending, but Rasikh rebuilt his path through domestic cricket after returning in 2021.
His IPL journey continued through multiple franchises — Mumbai Indians, Kolkata Knight Riders and Delhi Capitals — before Royal Challengers Bengaluru secured his services. The constant movement reflected both the competitive nature of franchise cricket and the search for consistency in a young fast bowler’s career.
Rasikh steadily evolved into an important pace option for Bengaluru, producing timely spells and showcasing improved control under pressure. His figures of 3 for 27 in the IPL final against Gujarat Titans underlined that progress and helped restrict Gujarat to a manageable total before RCB completed the chase.
Despite growing recognition, Rasikh himself appears focused on a larger ambition.
“I just want to play for India,” he recently said, a simple statement that reflects the dream still driving the young pacer from Kulgam.
For Kashmir cricket, Rasikh Salam Dar’s rise carries meaning beyond statistics. It represents persistence, recovery from setbacks and a reminder that sporting talent from the Valley continues to seek national stage and recognition. Whether his IPL breakthrough now opens the door to India colors may become one of the stories cricket followers watch closely in the coming seasons. [KNT]
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