How Irfan Pathan helped RCB’s latest sensation Swapnil Singh’s cricketing Journey?

The UP-born Ex-Baroda cricketer Swapnil Singh is now quite well known among cricket fans and the experts of the game owing to his crucial contributions in RCB’s ‘dramatic’ comeback in the league stage of the ongoing Indian Premier League. He was a part of RCB’s 6 consecutive ‘comeback’ to qualify for the playoff stage of the tournament.

Swapnil some crucial wickets for RCB in crunch situations when it was all-important for RCB. He has scalped 6 wickets in 6 innings with an economy rate of 8.76 and a strike rate of 13.00.

However, things had not been that easy for Swapnil Singh as there was also a time when he was about to quit his journey in cricket. It all would’ve happened after the then-captain of the Baroda state team told Swapnil ‘There’s no place for you in the team’.

Here's how Irfan Pathan revived Swapnil Singh's 'ending' career

Then came a time when the former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan stepped onto the scene and helped Swapnil Singh revive his career after it met a dead end during his stint with Baroda.

It all was initiated when Swapnil Singh called Irfan Pathan, who was also one of his mentos. Later, Irfan Pathan helped the UP-born cricketer start a new journey In domestic cricket.

Furthermore, Swapnil Singh also spoke about his experience with RCB in the Indian Premier League.

“When I came here, I knew I wouldn't play initially,” said Swapnil Singh to RCB Bold Diaries.

“But I never got onto the field for training thinking I won't play. Our first practice session was like my first match. From the first ball, I had to be on target if I had to play. Nets was like my match,” he added later.

Later around November 2023, Swapnil went to RCB’s trials, where requested the head coach Andy Flower to give him a chance but the latter didn’t look quite keen to rope in Swapnil into the Bengaluru squad for the 2024 season.

“My camp [called by RCB] wasn't great, but it wasn't bad either. On auction day [for IPL 2024], I was in Dehradun for the start of the Ranji Trophy. When I wasn't picked, I frankly thought it was over. There were so many other ways to win the world. I thought I'd finish playing this season and quit. I was very disappointed. When my family called, we just broke down,” he said.