December 23, 2024
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'A mixed feeling of relief, emotion...': Dinesh Karthik reveals why he decided to retire from IPL | Cricket News

‘A mixed feeling of relief, emotion…’: Dinesh Karthik reveals why he decided to retire from IPL | Cricket News

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NEW DELHI: Veteran wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik has stated that while he is in peak physical condition to continue playing professional cricket for another three years, the mental demands of the game have led him to step away. The 38-year-old, who recently announced his retirement from the Indian Premier League (IPL), shared his thoughts.Speaking to Cricbuzz, Karthik, who played his final IPL match against Rajasthan Royals in the Eliminator at the Narendra Modi Stadium this year, emphasized that physical fitness has never been a concern for him. “I think I am physically very much prepared to play for another three years. Especially with the Impact Player rule, it becomes that much easier. Touch wood, I have never missed a game because of an injury through my three decades. I’ve been blessed that way. I was never worried about my body or my fitness,” he said.However, Karthik admitted that the mental aspect of the game has been more challenging. “It was all about the mental side of things, whether I’ll be able to push as much in the lead-up to the tournament, whether if I don’t play as many matches, will I be okay with it,” he added.Reflecting on what kept him motivated after a challenging IPL season last year, Karthik revealed his intrinsic drive. “I am internally very, very motivated. Intrinsically, extremely motivated and I’ve lived by the mantra that if you are the best, no one can stop you. I just believed if I get one chance, I should make the most of it. I never cribbed. I was always thinking like I got a chance but I missed it. I got a tournament here, but I probably could have done better in this match. And that kept me going,” he said.Karthik has been a constant presence in the IPL since its inception in 2008, playing 257 matches, making him the joint second-most capped player in IPL history alongside Rohit Sharma, and just behind MS Dhoni (264).As he navigates retirement, Karthik mentioned that family functions have kept him occupied and discussed the emotions he felt leading up to his final match. “I don’t think it’s sunk in yet. There’s lots happening in the house, there’s a couple of weddings and all so I’ve been pretty busy with that. It’s a tad bit emotional, a tad bit relief. In a way, I was mentally prepared for whenever it had to happen. But I was so much more prepared for 18th May.”“Once that part of the tournament was crossed, I was extremely elated and very, very happy and grateful. The 22nd came around pretty fast, but overall it was a mixed feeling of relief, emotion and the fact that it has all come to an end,” he added.

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‘Batters going all-out in IPL, I think, was just a one-season thing’: RR's Riyan Parag

‘Batters going all-out in IPL, I think, was just a one-season thing’: RR’s Riyan Parag

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After five years in the Indian Premier League (IPL), where he managed a total of 600 runs, it finally felt like Riyan Parag announced his arrival this time around. The 22-year-old scored 573 runs to finish as the third highest run-getter in IPL 2024, playing a key role in Rajasthan Royals’ run to the playoffs. Rajasthan Royals’ Riyan Parag plays a shot during the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 match(PTI) In an interview on the sidelines of the Red Bull Campus Cricket Finals, Parag spoke about how he has matured, batters being ultra-aggressive, his ambitions as an all-rounder, India’s squad for the upcoming T20 World Cup, and more. Unlock exclusive access to the latest news on India’s general elections, only on the HT App. Download Now! Download Now! ALSO READ: ‘Rohit Sharma plays spin really well’: Wasim Jaffer picks Jaiswal’s opening partner for T20 World Cup Excerpts: Are there any changes you’ve made in terms of your game or mindset over the past year? I didn’t make much of a change. Domestically, I play at No.4 for Assam and it was just a matter of time before I got into similar situations in the IPL. In the IPL, no matter who says it’s just a game, it’s a much bigger stage for the players. So, it was just about implementing what I had been doing in domestic cricket. I didn’t really change my mindset or technique. It was just about a general upgrade, repeating what I had been doing, sticking to the basics, and not trying to do something extraordinary. When 50,000 people are watching you, every shot is being analysed and legends of the game are commentating, it’s very easy to try and please someone. I figured I didn’t have to do that. How did you sustain your form throughout the season? Everyone says maturity comes with age, but I believe it comes with pain. The things I’ve suffered over the past two-three years. This suffering comes from outside because I’m out here in the sun working as hard as I can. Suffering is when you have hateful stuff coming your way from people you don’t even know. These people don’t know me personally and have formed opinions based on my game. I started when I was around 17 and when you see stuff like this for years, it’s a big thing to digest. So, that’s matured me a lot. I’ve just figured out that it’s very important what I think of myself and not what others say. Everything else is just white noise then. Do you think this trend of batters going all guns blazing will continue? I think it was just a one-season thing. The Impact Player rule has, of course, changed things because now openers are just hands free and can smack from ball one. I feel the rule might change and the IPL might go down differently in the future. It’s never going to happen in international cricket, right, so everyone has to value their wicket. You know you can’t lose your wicket off the first ball. Do you like the Impact Player rule? As an all-rounder, I would say no. I like to bowl and the only way that will happen is if our three frontline bowlers get smacked, which is something I don’t want. So, once this rule goes away, I could be the fifth or sixth bowler and do a lot more. Of course, it isn’t my decision to make but yes, if it was up to me, I would remove this rule. Do you think the game these days is too favourable for batters? I have a completely different view. Batters can only make one mistake, whereas bowlers get five more balls (in an over) if they make a mistake. So, how is it a batter’s game? Batters are playing exceptionally well so you have to give them credit, not demean them. You can’t just say “oh no, it’s a batter’s game, rules this and that” and all that drama. You’ve got to understand that even if it’s a Test, a batter can bowl 20 overs while a batter is only allowed one mistake. They get more opportunities in a game regardless of how they play, and if I get out, I’ll get another game after four days. So, if you look at it that way, I believe it’s a bowler’s game only. The Indian team has struggled with a lack of bowling options in the batting order. Because the competition for batting slots is so fierce, do you think players have stopped paying attention to their secondary skill? I don’t even want to think about what other batters are doing. I know I want to bowl and that’s it. I want to take out the time to enhance my bowling and chip in with a couple of overs. I’ve never paid less attention to my bowling. If you do that, it just means you’re not working as hard. It’s very easy to say “okay, I’ve batted for four hours, it’s my main skill, and now I’m very tired”. That’s not how you get to the next level. If you’ve batted for four hours, rest up and come back to bowl for another hour. You have to figure out ways, else you’ll just be stuck. In the T20 World Cup, which areas do you think India need to improve to have a better chance this time? I can never watch cricket as a fan, I’ll always do it as a player. I hate when people watch cricket as fans. If you do that, please don’t speak to me because there are very different perspectives. People say a lot of things but they don’t understand all the intricacies. When I make it to the Indian team, I’ll play my brand of cricket. Right now, the ones who have made it are all professionals and know how to handle different situations. We’ve played good cricket each time. The benchmark set by fans,…

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'I get death threats': Simon Doull opens up on backlash for criticising Virat Kohli | Cricket News

‘I get death threats’: Simon Doull opens up on backlash for criticising Virat Kohli | Cricket News

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NEW DELHI: Former New Zealand fast bowler and commentator Simon Doull made a startling revelation regarding his criticism of Virat Kohli‘s strike-rate.Doull emphasised that despite having said “thousand good things” about the former Royal Challengers Bengaluru captain, he has experienced negative consequences for voicing his critiques.While Doull has often praised the Indian batsman’s skills and achievements, he found that pointing out areas for improvement, such as strike-rate, can lead to backlash from passionate fans.“I see a phenomenal player, a player who should be dominating more than what he was. That’s what I talk about (when I mention) his strike rate. I felt that he was afraid to get out because he was worried about what is behind him rather than (saying), ‘I’m so good’. It is the same thing I said about Babar and I had a chat with him after I talked about it in Pakistan and he said that his coaches told him the same thing. What I loved about (Kohli) this year was the intent to hit sixes,” said Doull on Cricbuzz.He stated that his main point has always been that Kohli shouldn’t have to worry about getting out, and that it was probably one of the few negative comments he has made about the former RCB captain.“He is too good to worry about getting out and that was always my point. I have said a thousand great things about Virat Kohli but I say one thing negative or construed to be negative, and I get death threats. That’s the shame of it,” he said.“There has never been an issue and I would never have a reason to have personal problems. When I look at the game and the way it has moved, particularly with the impact sub, a strike rate of 130-135 didn’t cut it any more,” he said.Kohli finished the IPL 2024 as the highest run-getter with 741 runs in 15 matches including a century and five fifties. He scored at an average of 61.75 and with a strike rate of 154.69 as an opener.

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'To my boys, my team, my champs...': Shah Rukh Khan's million-dollar praise for KKR | Cricket News

‘To my boys, my team, my champs…’: Shah Rukh Khan’s million-dollar praise for KKR | Cricket News

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NEW DELHI: Superstar Shah Rukh Khan on Wednesday congratulated the “stars” of his team, the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), for their outstanding performance in the IPL 2024 final, where they clinched the championship trophy for the third time.KKR triumphed in the latest edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) with a dominating eight-wicket victory over Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in a completely one-sided final on Sunday.As the principal owner of the team, Shah Rukh also expressed his gratitude to the fans who patiently waited 10 long years for this win. “Love you all and don’t let the dancing stop! Also, so happy and thankful for each and every KKR fan and I hope all around the world youngsters learn that tough times don’t last…” he wrote in a lengthy post on his social media handles. The 58-year-old actor expressed his gratitude to the KKR coaching staff and management in his post. He specifically acknowledged the contributions of Gautam Gambhir, the team’s mentor, Abhishek Nayar, the assistant coach, and Chandrakant Pandit, the head coach.“To my boys… my team… my champs… ‘these blessed candles of the night’… My Stars…of KKR. I cannot do a lot of things and you cannot do them all either…but together we manage most of them. That’s what @KKRiders stood for.“Simply being together. Beyond the ability and guidance of @GautamGambhir….the earnestness of Chandu, the love of @abhisheknayar1 & leadership of @ShreyasIyer15… the dedication of @rtendo27, Bharat Arun, @1crowey & @Numb3z.”KKR is a team that’s not built on hierarchy but “pure respect for collaboration”, he said.“GG (Gambhir) said if u can’t support a single vision as a team… u are leading to a division in the team. Each player understood that. Young and old. The Trophy is not a testament of having the best players in the team… but a proof of each player being the best for the team. Boys you are all made of Star stuff!! Finally Tough and Happy teams do! Korbo…Lorbo…Jeetbo….Always. See u all at the stadia in 2025,” Shah Rukh wrote.Shah Rukh, who was hospitalized last week in Ahmedabad due to a heat stroke following his attendance at an IPL match of his team at the Narendra Modi Stadium, was overjoyed when KKR emerged victorious in IPL 2024.During the final match at Chennai’s Chepauk Stadium, the actor wore a mask for most of the game but removed it when the team was on the brink of securing the coveted title, displaying his excitement.Accompanied by his wife Gauri Khan and children Aryan, Suhana, and AbRam, Shah Rukh was present at the final match.KKR, co-owned by Juhi Chawla and Jay Mehta, clinched its first IPL title in 2012, followed by another win in 2014.(With PTI inputs)

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Watch: Cake-smeared Shahbaz Ahmed leads celebrations in SRH camp after entering IPL final | Cricket News

Watch: Cake-smeared Shahbaz Ahmed leads celebrations in SRH camp after entering IPL final | Cricket News

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Shahbaz Ahmed and Abhishek Sharma‘s combined effort of five-wickets led Sunrisers Hyderabad’s (SRH) entry into the final of IPL 2024 with a comprehensive 36-run win over Rajasthan Royals in Qualifier 2 on Friday, and the duo deservingly cut the victory cake as the team returned to their hotel in Chennai.SRH had lost to Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in Qualifier 1 and will now face the same opponents in the title clash on Sunday.SRH previously won the title in 2016 while KKR have lifted the trophy twice before – in 2012 and 2014. IPL 2024 STANDINGS: Orange Cap | Purple Cap On Friday in Qualifier 2, SRH scored 175 for 9, thanks to Heinrich Klassen’s 34-ball 50. In chase, Rajasthan could only reach 139 for 7 as the two left-arm spinners Shahbaz (3 for 23) and Abhishek (2 for 24) tied the Royals’ batsmen into knots.Until Qualifier 2, it was Abhishek’s bat making most of the noise with 470 runs coming off his willow in 14 innings. While he could add only 12 more runs to it on Friday, it was his bowling spell of 2 for 24, which included wickets of Rajasthan Royals’ skipper Sanju Samson (10) and Shimron Hetmyer (4), that took SRH into the final.As the team entered the hotel lobby upon its return from the MA Chidambaram Stadium, the hotel staff had arranged for a cake, which was cut by the spin twins. But Shahbaz had no idea of what was coming next as one of his teammates took a big chunk from the cake and smeared it on Shahbaz’s face, much to the amusement of the rest of the squad watching on. Besides that fun, skipper Pat Cummins, Klaasen and Shahbaz also connected with the fans from the SRH dressing room after the win. WATCH VIDEOS OF SUNRISERS’ CELEBRATIONS

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Justin Langer drops India coach plan after Rahul’s caution

Justin Langer drops India coach plan after Rahul’s caution

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Lucknow Super Giants coach Justin Langer with captain K.L. Rahul | Photo Credit: Sandeep Saxena Former Australian cricketer Justin Langer was enticed by the prospect of becoming India’s head coach but K.L. Rahul’s word of caution regarding the “pressure and politics” that come with the job dissuaded him from pursuing the “amazing” opportunity. Langer, who served as Lucknow Super Giants’ head coach this IPL season, recalled a chat with franchise skipper and a senior member of the Indian team Rahul. Never say never, but… “You never say never. And the pressure of doing it in India… I was talking to KL (Rahul) and he said, ‘You know, if you think there’s pressure and politics in an IPL team, multiply that by a thousand… (that’s) coaching India,” said Langer. “That was a good bit of advice, I guess. It would be an amazing job, (but) I have (put myself out of contention),” he added. Before taking up the assignment with Super Giants this year, Langer had coached Australia from May 2018 to February 2022, helping the team navigate a difficult period in the aftermath of the infamous ball-tampering scandal. Under Langer’s guidance, Australia lifted its first-ever T20 World Cup title and also went on to win the Ashes. “I also know that it’s an all-encompassing role, and having done it for four years with the Australian team, honestly, it’s exhausting. And that’s the Australian job!,” the 53-year-old said. The BCCI has invited fresh applications for the head coach position, with a deadline set for May 27 as Rahul Dravid is set to exit after the T20 World Cup.

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IPL 2024: Scratchy Rajasthan Royals end RCB's sensational run with four-wicket win in Eliminator | Cricket News

IPL 2024: Scratchy Rajasthan Royals end RCB’s sensational run with four-wicket win in Eliminator | Cricket News

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NEW DELHI: Rajasthan Royals managed to halt Royal Challengers Bengaluru‘s juggernaut in the Indian Premier League, securing a hard-fought four-wicket victory in the Eliminator in Ahmedabad on Wednesday.The RR bowlers produced an all-round effort, stopping RCB to 172 for 8. However, the their batters encountered difficulties during the middle overs in chase, allowing RCB to claw back in the match, which remained evenly poised for a significant portion of the second half. Despite the challenges, the inaugural IPL champions ultimately reached the target with an over to spare, finishing at 174 for 6, thanks to Rovman Powell’s composed unbeaten 16, which provided the necessary impetus in a tense conclusion. As he has done several times before this season, Riyan Parag (36 off 26) showcased deep resolve in an adverse situation to help Rajasthan stay alive in the tournament. It was Royals’ first win after four losses and an abandoned game.2008 winners Royals face Sunrisers Hyderabad in Chennai on Friday for a place in the IPL final. The returning Shimron Hetmyer also played his part to perfection, scoring a crucial 26 off 14 balls.As It HappenedIn a contest wherein fortunes swung from one side to another, RR remained ahead with impactful performances throughout even though Mohammed Siraj (2/33) raised late hopes for RCB with wickets of Parag and Hetmyer in the 18th over,With 13 needed off last two overs, Powell found two fours off Lockie Ferguson to seal the deal in favour of his side.Earlier, it was Yashasvi Jaiswal (45 off 30) who gave them the impetus at the top.Off to an unconvincing start with his initial runs coming off the outside edge, Jaiswal grew in confidence when Yash Dayal fed him a few deliveries to capitalise on and the RR opener cracked four fours in the third over to break the shackles.At the other end, Tom Kohler-Cadmore (20) also hit a couple of fours against Siraj and while getting a lifeline from Glenn Maxwell, who spilled a sitter at deep square leg off Dayal.With RR’s acceleration rapidly shaving runs off the target, RCB needed a breakthrough and Lockie Ferguson provided the first success when he foxed Kohler-Cadmore with a slow yorker which crashed into the stumps.The gradual progression of Jaiswal’s innings saw the batter finding his rhythm, but the extreme heat sapped him out completely having faced a mere 29 balls.In between the ninth and the 10th over, Jaiswal received on-field treatment and got back up only to play a loose shot — an attempted ramp off Cameron Green but only gloved it to the ‘keeper.Soon after, Karn Sharma dealt a body blow by having Sanju Samson (17) stumped.With their tails up, RCB continued making inroads with Dhruv Jurel (8) being run out after a brilliant effort from Virat Kohli and Cameron Green. Kohli fired a sharp throw from deep midwicket to the non-striker’s end, where Jurel was found short of his crease.RR were firmly under pressure heading into the 15th over when they chose to go after Green, who had been all over them with three tidy overs and a wicket up until then.Hetmyer smacked the Australian for a six and Parag followed his partner in hitting another, while also finding a four to collect 17 runs.Earlier, Rajasthan Royals put forth a sharp bowling effort.Led by Trent Boult (4-0-16-1), who produced an opening spell of 3-0-6-1, RR bowlers kept taking wickets at crucial stages to control the game.The venerable Ravichandran Ashwin (4-0-19-2), having previously gone wicketless for a significant stretch, left an indelible mark with wickets Cameron Green (27) and Glenn Maxwell (0) on consecutive deliveries while Avesh Khan (3/44) also chipped in.Rajasthan’s bowling was adequately backed up by their fielders, particularly Rovman Powell, who took two stunning catches that clipped RCB’s progress.(With inputs from PTI)

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After threat to Virat Kohli and RCB's security, team cancelled practice and press conference ahead of IPL Eliminator: Report | Cricket News

After threat to Virat Kohli and RCB’s security, team cancelled practice and press conference ahead of IPL Eliminator: Report | Cricket News

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In a startling report by Bengali daily ‘Anandbazar Patrika’, Gujarat Police arrested four persons from the Ahmedabad airport on Monday night on suspicion of terror activities, which allegedly posed a threat to the security of Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) team and its star player Virat Kohli ahead of their IPL Eliminator match against Rajasthan Royals on Wednesday. Once the RCB camp received the above information, they decided to cance their practice at the Gujarat College ground in Ahmedabad on Tuesday and also did not go ahead with the press conference on the eve of the match. Rajasthan Royals, however, went ahead with their training as scheduled but cancelled their press conference as well. The Gujarat College ground was the alternative practic venue for the two teams as the Narendra Modi Stadium hosted Qualifier 1 on Tuesday between Kolkata Knight Riders and Sunrisers Hyderabad. KKR won that match to enter the final.The report also claims that the police found the four arrested men in possession of arms as well as suspicious videos and text messages at their hideout.Reportedly, security around the RCB team hotel has been beefed up and all entry and exit points for the players and team staff secured.

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'RCB clear favourites, they'll advance to Qualifier 2': Ex-CSK star sidelines RR in bold prediction before Eliminator

‘RCB clear favourites, they’ll advance to Qualifier 2’: Ex-CSK star sidelines RR in bold prediction before Eliminator

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Six-time IPL winning star Ambati Rayudu has picked Royal Challengers Bengaluru as clear favourites in the eliminator against Rajasthan Royals as the momentum is in their favour after the win over Chennai Super Kings. Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s players celebrate after winning the Indian Premier League (IPL) match against Chennai Super Kings.(AFP) In the first half of the IPL, RCB were languishing at the bottom of the table while RR were sky-high at the top, but Faf du Plessis and Co. produced one of the best comebacks in tournament history to finish fourth after the league stage. They won six matches on a trot and outclassed CSK in their final league stage match to pip them for the fourth spot in the playoffs. Unlock exclusive access to the latest news on India’s general elections, only on the HT App. Download Now! Download Now! “I think RCB are clear favourites for me, because of the way they are playing and they’ve had a clinical game against CSK and for RR I don’t know if this gap in play will help, this washout would help them in going into an eliminator against RCB who I feel right now are a matured side and every player over there knows his role. So I think RCB are the ones who will eventually go into qualifiers 2,” Rayudu said on Star Sports Cricket Live. After losing seven of the first eight matches, RCB somehow managed to bounce back and win match after match to make a case for themselves for the playoff spot when many had written them off. With six wins a trot in the second half and a total of 14 points, RCB secured a higher net-run rate than Chennai Super Kings, Delhi Capitals, and Lucknow Super Giants, who also had 14 points. Former India paceman Varun Aaron also backed RCB for the mega eliminator as he feels Virat Kohli deserves the title after years of hardwork. “He’s got a trophy to get. That’s what’s left for him. One thing that he’s not got in all these years is the IPL trophy. He’s given his heart and soul to this franchise. The fans love him, and the fans from other teams also love him. “But the IPL has been that elusive one for Virat Kohli which he has to get this year. He will want to get that this year, especially after you win six games on the trot and go into a playoff like this,” he added. The former RCB paceman further said that Du Plessis and Co. have the perfect momentum to get past the Royals who looked sluggish in their last few matches. “All it does to you is heighten your self-belief, not just his, but the whole team. So they are going to go in with a lot of belief, very contrasting to the Rajasthan Royals who are going in with a lot of doubts. So it’s going to be a very interesting encounter and I completely back RCB on this one just because of the momentum they are taking into this encounter,” he added.

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'God has got a plan': Virat Kohli sums up RCB's rise from the ashes in IPL 2024 | Cricket News

‘God has got a plan’: Virat Kohli sums up RCB’s rise from the ashes in IPL 2024 | Cricket News

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It won’t be wrong to call Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) the phoenix of IPL 2024, for the way they have literally risen from the ashes to script one of the most remarkable comebacks the league has ever seen. But there’s still unfinished business, which is why RCB icon Virat Kohli says “we gotta focus on the next one.” RCB qualified for the playoffs, finishing fourth on the points table after defeating five-time winners Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in their do-or-die match at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru last Saturday.That was their sixth consecutive win on the trot, after losing seven of their first eight matches in this edition, which is what makes their run special and iconic. No other team has ever done that after a similar horror start to the season. IPL 2024: Results | Points Table Kohli, with 708 runs to be the league’s top run-getter, has been one of the inspirational figures behind this comeback; but the batting legend doesn’t want to delve much into it as the team has the all-important Eliminator against Rajasthan Royals coming up. The losing team in that match exits the tournament, while the winners go on to play Qualifier 2 for a place in the final. Qualifier 1 will be played between Kolkata Knight Riders and Sunrisers Hyderabad, with the winner moving into the final and the losing team taking on the winners of the Eliminator. “God’s got a plan,” Kohli could be heard saying on a video clip on social media, as he walks towards the dressing room.WATCH VIDEO “So you just need to be honest with what you are doing. I think we were pretty honest with our hard work and we got the rewards. I don’t want to say anything more than this. We gotta focus on the next one,” the former RCB captain added. Kohli has been with RCB since the inception of the league, which makes it his 17th season with the franchise. However, they are yet to win the title and will hope that this inspirational comeback continues for three more matches to end their wait.

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