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Virat Kohli’s Impact Reverberates at RCB’s WPL Match Ahead of IPL 2024: A Message for Gavaskar

In Tuesday’s Women’s Premier League match between Royal Challengers Bangalore and Gujarat Giants at Chinnaswamy Stadium, Virat Kohli was definitely felt, even if he is not competing in cricket anymore. The fans enthusiastically applauded RCB, who leads the WPL 2024 points table with two victories from two games, as they hosted Bengaluru for the opening leg of the competition. However, it seems like the spectators missed having their favorite Kohli around, even with Smriti Mandhana, Sophie Devine, and Ellyse Perry. The audience in Chinnaswamy spontaneously burst into ‘Kohli-Kohli’ chanting during one point during the RCB’s 108-run chase, which they comfortably completed in the 13th over. The only player who has supported the same IPL team from the beginning is Kohli. He moved from player to captain in style between 2008 and 2023, and as a legend, he still receives raucous cheers.

The Indian Premier League (IPL) will commence in under a month. Many are curious about whether the legendary player would return in time for the opening game of the season, known as “the Kaveri Derby,” which pits the Indian cricket club (RCB) against their bitter rivals, the Chennai Super Kings. Since the IPL’s beginning eighteen years ago, Kohli has not missed a single one. The only person who knows what Kohli’s future move is, though, is the RCB cream, considering his recent elevation to become a parent twice. ‘Personal reasons’—the birth of his second child, Akaay—caused Kohli to skip the whole Test series against England. Though it was rumored that the famous Sunil Gavaskar would return in time to play for RCB in the IPL 2024, this is not quite definite. Is he going to play? “He’s not playing for a reason, so he might not play in the IPL as well,” Gavaskar stated at an Indian Institute of Management, Ranchi, Star Sports Event.

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When will Virat Kohli return?

very loud 'kohli-kohli' chants at the chinnaswamy stadium. send this to sunil gavaskar who thinks kohli should miss ipl pic.twitter.com/JrvqpYf840

— Aman (@CricketSatire) February 27, 2024

Only he knows what Kohli is up to. However, one thing is certain: In the 14 remaining games, Kohli will be expected to play if India needs him for the T20 World Cup. It is believed that Kohli is a part of those preparations as well since BCCI secretary Jay Shah said that Rohit Sharma, not Hardik Pandya, will captain India in the West Indies and the United States. The man may have only played in two Twenty20 Internationals in the past year or so, but he still has it, as seen by his 639 runs at an average of 53.25 and two centuries in the previous edition. Kohli’s record season total of 973 runs has yet to be surpassed, even after eight years. Although he might not be able to repeat the crazy 2016 season, Kohli is still projected to dominate the charts and push young players for the Orange Cap. It should be noted that RCB has never won an IPL championship and that, at 35, Kohli is expected to be more driven, hungry, and fiercely committed than ever.

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