After being retained by the Royal Challengers Bangalore for a record-breaking amount of Rs 21 crore, Virat Kohli shared an emotional message for the franchise's fans, expressing his commitment to the team for the next three years. Kohli also revealed that his ultimate goal is to win the IPL title at least once in the upcoming cycle. RCB management, in the meantime, is exploring all options for the captaincy role after releasing Faf du Plessis, and also expressed their disappointment in not being able to retain Cameron Green due to injury.
Virat Kohli Retained by Royal Challengers Bangalore, Aims for IPL Title
Bengaluru, India - In a significant move, the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) has announced the retention of Virat Kohli, the former captain and star batsman, for an unprecedented sum of Rs 21 crore. This record-breaking retention has sent a strong message about RCB's commitment to building a winning team for the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) season.
Kohli, who has led RCB for the past nine years, has been the heart and soul of the franchise. Despite the team's struggles to win an IPL title, Kohli has remained loyal and passionate about his association with RCB. In an emotional message to the fans, Kohli expressed his gratitude for their support and vowed to give his all to bring the coveted trophy to Bangalore.
"I have always said that RCB is like family to me," said Kohli. "I have shared some incredible moments with this team and with our amazing fans. I am excited about this new chapter and determined to contribute in every way I can to help RCB win the IPL."
RCB's Captaincy Options
With Kohli no longer serving as captain, RCB has begun exploring options for a new leader. Faf du Plessis, who captained RCB last season, was not retained by the franchise. As a result, the management is considering both internal and external candidates for the captaincy role.
Among the internal candidates, Glenn Maxwell and Dinesh Karthik are seen as potential options. Maxwell, the Australian all-rounder, has captained the Melbourne Stars in the Big Bash League and is known for his aggressive style of play. Karthik, the wicketkeeper-batsman, has led several teams in the IPL and is known for his experience and composure.
Cameron Green's Injury
Another significant development for RCB is the absence of Cameron Green due to injury. The Australian all-rounder was expected to be a key player for the franchise, but he suffered a finger injury during the ongoing Test series against South Africa.
Green's absence will be a significant blow to RCB's plans, as he is one of the most promising young players in the world. The franchise is expected to explore alternative options to fill his role, either through the auction or via trades with other teams.
Top 5 FAQs Related to Virat Kohli and RCB
1. Why was Virat Kohli retained for such a high price? Kohli is one of the greatest batsmen in the world and is considered to be the face of Indian cricket. His retention is a testament to his value to RCB and their belief that he can lead the team to success.
2. Who will be the new captain of RCB? RCB is currently considering several candidates for the captaincy role, including Glenn Maxwell and Dinesh Karthik internally, and external candidates as well.
3. Why was Cameron Green not retained by RCB? Green suffered a finger injury during the ongoing Test series against South Africa, which forced him to withdraw from the IPL.
4. What are RCB's chances of winning the IPL title this season? RCB has a strong team with a good balance of experience and youth. They will be among the favorites to win the title this season, especially with Kohli leading the charge.
5. What is Virat Kohli's ultimate goal with RCB? Kohli's ultimate goal is to win the IPL title at least once in the upcoming cycle. He has expressed a deep desire to bring the trophy to Bangalore and end the team's long wait for success.
Sunday's La Liga fixture saw Atletico Madrid suffer their third loss in five matches, this time against Real Betis. An early own goal by defender Jose Gimenez put Betis in the lead, and despite Atletico's late efforts, they were unable to equalize. With a 10-point deficit from league leaders Barcelona, Atletico's title race is looking uncertain.
In a tense match against Unio Esportiva Vic, Atletico Madrid faced difficulties on a flooded pitch, as they struggled to dominate with top players. Despite a late penalty calling in their favor, it was only through sheer perseverance and determination that they secured a 2-0 victory, advancing to the second round of the Copa del Rey. The game was affected by severe weather conditions in Valencia, leading to the postponement of other matches, causing disruptions for teams like Valencia and Levante.
As the 2022/23 Saudi Pro League season heats up, the reigning champions, Al Ittihad, have made significant changes during the off-season to push towards the top spot once again. They now face a tough challenge from newly-promoted Al Qadsiah, who have been performing well. Fans in the UK can tune in on DAZN, while those in the US can catch some matches on Fox and Fubo. Luiz Felipe and Ahmed Bamasud are unavailable for Al Ittihad due to injuries, adding to their defensive woes. This is the predicted lineup for the match: Rajkovic, Al Yami, Alamri, Al Mousa, Kadesh, Fabinho, Mitaj, Diaby, Aouar, Bergwijn, and Benzema.
England secured a thrilling 2 runs win over West Indies in the first one-day international match held at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua. Led by captain Liam Livingstone, England delivered a stellar performance, outshining the West Indies in both batting and bowling. With a total of 38.1 overs and an unbeaten partnership from Jofra Archer and Adil Rashid, England emerged victorious in a nail-biting finish, setting the tone for the rest of the series.
In a recent development, England's Ben Stokes and Jos Buttler have signed two-year central contracts with the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB). The contracts, which were introduced in 2023, cover both red-ball and white-ball players and take into consideration their likelihood of featuring in England teams in the next period. Rising star Jamie Smith has also been awarded a two-year contract, while players like Phil Salt, Olly Stone, Shoaib Bashir and Will Jacks have one-year deals.
Former Portugal and Benfica midfielder, Ruben Amorim, has been making waves in the football world as he has established himself as one of Europe's most promising young coaches. After leading Sporting to the league title twice, he is now reportedly heading to Manchester United. In an unexpected turn of events, Amorim has said that he will provide more information about his move to United after Sporting's upcoming league game against Estrela da Amadora on Friday. Despite the potential two-and-a-half-year deal, Amorim is not expected to start in his new role until the November international break. Stay tuned for more updates on this exciting transfer saga.
Indian captain Rohit Sharma and franchise skipper Hardik Pandya have decided to retain five national team players for Mumbai Indians in the upcoming IPL 2025 season. After a disappointing performance in the last edition, Rohit Sharma expressed his determination to create a strong team and bring back the legacy of the five-time winners. There were also talks about Rohit's future in the team, but he expressed his happiness and determination to turn things around with the help of his teammates.
As the deadline for IPL retention passes, big names like Jos Buttler, Mitchell Starc, Faf du Plessis, and Glenn Maxwell have been let go by their respective franchises. With only two teams having exhausted their 'right-to-match' cards, the rest of the franchises will be vying for these players in the upcoming mega auction. Fans can catch all the updates on Manorama Online App.
CSK announced that they will retain MS Dhoni for INR 4 crore for the 2025 season of the Indian Premier League. This decision was met with widespread celebration on social media, with fans expressing their joy at seeing the 43-year-old wicketkeeper-batter in action once again. Dhoni, who holds the record for most matches played in IPL history, has been an integral part of CSK since he joined the team in 2008. Along with Dhoni, CSK also retained Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ravindra Jadeja and other popular players for the upcoming season. This announcement comes as all ten IPL franchises have announced their list of retained players for the auction.