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Had told the management before auctions that I would open this time: Virat Kohli

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The Virat Kohli-led Royal Challengers Bangalore begin their IPL 2021 campaign against Mumbai Indians on Friday in Chennai. In a recent video posted by the franchise on their social media, skipper Kohli talks about opening the innings in this edition, how AB de Villiers has helped him regain his confidence and his long association with the franchise. 

Kohli opened the innings for India in the recently-concluded T20I series against England and got some fruitful results during the course. The right-handed batsman has now confirmed that he will be opening the innings for RCB as well in this IPL. 

“I had communicated it to the management even before the auctions that I would open the innings. I had a chat with Mike Hesson and Simon Katich after the last season that I would take up the role of the opener in the next edition. Luckily, for me, things happened in such a way that I got to open for India in the last game against a quality bowling attack and I ended up scoring runs that gave me confidence. Heading into this IPL, I know that I have done it in the past and for the Indian team so I’m in the groove and can provide that balance to the team” he said. 

Kohli further revealed that he had a chat with ABD when he faced some problems with his batting during the England series at home. The RCB skipper said that the former South Africa captain gave him one of the simplest pieces of advice and that helped him eventually. 

“Having played for so long, you can still have that doubt when you are not scoring runs. There are too many thoughts going which are due to external factors. So, I thought that I will just take another point of view about all this because I have seen AB play and how consistent he is. I asked him what to do when you are in doubt and I got the simplest of the answers from him. He said just watch the ball,” Kohli further told. 

Kohli has been with the RCB franchise right from the start where he has been a part of three IPL finals and one Champions League final. Talking about the same, the skipper said that it is a special feeling to be a part of such a team. 

“It is a very special feeling. You have to realise as an individual that we have reached the IPL final thrice and have featured in one Champions League final. We have played four finals and two-three semi-finals as well. Although we haven’t been able to go on and finish the job in the IPL, we are one of the most loved teams across the tournament,” the skipper said. 

“We are a team that gets a lot of support because we play a certain brand of cricket and play our heart out. There has never been a shortage of passion, commitment and intensity and me as an individual, I have never felt that I need to move away from the team because I haven’t won the title,” Kohli concluded.  




 

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