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ToggleRoyal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) has been synonymous with Virat Kohli’s IPL career as the batting legend strives to win the coveted title for the franchise at least once in his tenure as captain. Virat Kohli shocked the cricketing world by announcing his decision to quit Royal Challengers Bangalore’s (RCB) leadership at the end of the ongoing IPL 2021 in the UAE. Virat Kohli will also quit as India’s T20I captain after T20I World Cup ends.
Captain Virat Kohli’s decision has surely not gone down too well with his worldwide fans and supporters, yet they continue to root for their superstar to win the elusive missing IPL title for the Bangalore franchise, at least once before he steps down from the all-important mantle.
Virender Sehwag: Everyone Wants Virat Kohli To Win At Least A Trophy For Royal Challengers Bangalore
Not to forget, the Royal Challengers Bangalore skipper, earlier had announced that he would discontinue as Team India’s T20I captain after the ICC T20 World Cup 2021 to be held in UAE and Oman concludes as well. As if it wasn’t hard enough digesting this piece of news, the pressure of winning IPL silverware remains another hurdle yet to be achieved for the cricketing icon’s otherwise glorious career thus far.
However, former Indian legendary dashing opener Virender Sehwag has said that Virat Kohli owes at least one IPL trophy to the RCB family since the Indian skipper enjoys such a huge fan following worldwide. Virat Kohli has not won a single IPL title despite featuring in all 13 editions of the tournament, of which 8 of them, he played as captain.
“IPL is important for every captain but I think more so for Virat as with his huge fan base, everyone wants Virat to win a trophy for the Bangalore franchise. If not multiple times then at least once in his tenure as captain,” Sehwag told PTI.
The 42-year-old ex-India batsman said that 2021 might just be Royal Challengers Bangalore’s year and better yet, maybe the icing on the cake in Virat Kohli’s IPL career before he departs from the franchise’s leadership.
“This has been a strange year off the field due to pandemic and who knows it might be a different year for Bangalore from previous seasons and they go on to win the trophy,” said Sehwag.
In addition, Virender Sehwag said that just like the IPL 2020 in the UAE, he again feels IPL 2020 winners Mumbai Indians (MI) and runners-up Delhi Capitals (DC) are the favourites to win the cash-rich elite T20 tournament.
“Since the second half has been shifted to Dubai and Abu Dhabi, I think Delhi and Mumbai will again be favourites and the five-time champions are slightly ahead,” he added.
“Chennai’s average score in India was 201 during the first phase but I think when it comes to UAE tracks, they would be lacking a bit in batting firepower. If I have to pick one team, that will be Mumbai,” concluded Sehwag.
Virat Kohli’s association with Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) goes back to the first year of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2008 and even though Virat Kohli has announced he will step down from captaincy after the 2021 season, he has said he wants to finish his IPL career with the Bengaluru franchise. RCB finished 3rd in 2015 and 2nd in 2016. The two are the only seasons apart from the 2020 season when Virat Kohli has led his team to the playoffs.
Royal Challengers Bangalore Loses To Kolkata Knight Riders By 9 Wickets And 60 Balls To Spare In Their 1st Match In IPL 2021 UAE Leg
Virat Kohli-led Royal Challengers Bangalore need to get back to their groove and return to winning ways if at all there is any chance for Virender Sehwag’s prediction to hold any bearing as RCB started the second phase of the 14th edition of the IPL in Abu Dhabi poorly as the team got thrashed by Eoin Morgan-led Kolkata Knight Riders by 9 wickets and 60 balls to spare.
Going ahead, RCB is pitted against a no.1 placed side on the league table, Chennai Super Kings (CSK). MS Dhoni’s Yellow Army will face RCB on Friday (September 24) in Sharjah.
In KKR’s opening match in the UAE leg, Varun Chakravarthy took the crucial wickets of Glenn Maxwell, Sachin Baby, and Wanindu Hasaranga. The mystery spinner showed ample proof of his credentials while registering figures of 3/13. Meanwhile, Andre Russell also registered three dismissals including that of AB de Villiers and Lockie Ferguson bagged two wickets.