Match 13 of the IPL 2022 edition saw the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) lock horns with the one-time winners and table-toppers Rajasthan Royals (RR) at the iconic Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai on Tuesday evening (April 04).&nbsp;

Facing the unbeaten RR franchise, RCB had their back against the wall in pursuit of a challenging&nbsp;170-run target before Dinesh Karthik's entertaining 23-ball 44* and Shahbaz Ahmed's 26-ball 45 propelled RCB to a stunning six-wicket win. With this memorable victory, RCB achieved an elite feat. The three-time runners-up became the fourth franchise to have 100 wins in the cash-rich league following the RR heist.&nbsp;

Teams to have won 100, or more, games in IPL

MI - 125

CSK - 117

KKR - 109

RCB - 100*

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-buttlers-special-ton-to-dk-shahbaz-ahmeds-fireworks-how-rcb-ended-rrs-unbeaten-run-468713">From Buttler's special ton to DK-Shahbaz Ahmed's fireworks: How RCB ended RR's unbeaten run</a>

Talking about the grueling RCB-RR encounter, skipper Faf du Plessis won the toss and opted to bowl first. RR rode on in-form opener Jos Buttler's 47-ball 70 not out and Shimron Hetmyer's 31-ball 42* to post a competitive 169-3. Devdutt Padikkal also contributed with a handy 29-ball 37.

In reply, RCB were tottering in the run-chase despite an impressive 55-run opening stand between Faf and Anuj Rawat. Yuzvendra Chahal, Trent Boult and Navdeep Saini chipped in with regular wickets to bring RCB on the back foot. Star batter Virat Kohli also departed for a 6-ball 5. RCB were reduced to 87 for 5 before a turnaround happened courtesy a brilliant 67-run sixth-wicket stand between DK and Shahbaz. Eventually, Harshal Patel hit the winning runs in the final over to seal the deal for RCB.

RR remain at the top spot in the points table, despite conceding their first game of the season, whereas RCB are at the sixth position.

Match 13 of the IPL 2022 edition saw the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) lock horns with the one-time winners and table-toppers Rajasthan Royals (RR) at the iconic Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai on Tuesday evening (April 04).

Match 13 of the IPL 2022 edition saw the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) lock horns with the one-time winners and table-toppers Rajasthan Royals (RR) at the iconic Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai on Tuesday evening (April 04). Facing the unbeaten RR franchise, RCB had their back against the wall in pursuit of a challenging 170-run target before Dinesh Karthik's entertaining 23-ball 44* and Shahbaz Ahmed's 26-ball 45 propelled RCB to a stunning six-wicket win. With this memorable victory, RCB achieved an elite feat. The three-time runners-up became the fourth franchise to have 100 wins in the cash-rich league following the RR heist. Teams to have won 100, or more, games in IPL MI - 125 CSK - 117 KKR - 109 RCB - 100* ALSO READ | From Buttler's special ton to DK-Shahbaz Ahmed's fireworks: How RCB ended RR's unbeaten run Talking about the grueling RCB-RR encounter, skipper Faf du Plessis won the toss and opted to bowl first. RR rode on in-form opener Jos Buttler's 47-ball 70 not out and Shimron Hetmyer's 31-ball 42* to post a competitive 169-3. Devdutt Padikkal also contributed with a handy 29-ball 37. In reply, RCB were tottering in the run-chase despite an impressive 55-run opening stand between Faf and Anuj Rawat. Yuzvendra Chahal, Trent Boult and Navdeep Saini chipped in with regular wickets to bring RCB on the back foot. Star batter Virat Kohli also departed for a 6-ball 5. RCB were reduced to 87 for 5 before a turnaround happened courtesy a brilliant 67-run sixth-wicket stand between DK and Shahbaz. Eventually, Harshal Patel hit the winning runs in the final over to seal the deal for RCB. RR remain at the top spot in the points table, despite conceding their first game of the season, whereas RCB are at the sixth position.

IPL 2022: RCB join MI, CSK and KKR in elite list, becomes 4th team to win 100 games after RR heist

Dinesh Karthik played a sensational knock of unbeaten 44 runs to help Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) beat Rajasthan Royals (RR) by four wickets in a thrilling encounter in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 on Tuesday. Karthik came out to bat at number seven when RCB were reeling&nbsp;at 87/5 in the 170-run chase and helped the team get over the line with a brilliant display.

RCB got off to a good start in the run chase with openers Faf du Plessis and Anuj Rawat adding a 55-run stand for the first wicket. However, the duo departed in quick succession followed by the dismissals of Virat Kohli (5) and David Willey (5) cheaply which left RCB in a spot of bother.

The required run-rate had touched 12 runs per over mark when Karthik arrived in the middle. However, the veteran wicket-keeper batter went all out right from the start of his innings and took the RR bowlers to the cleaners. Karthik's 23-ball 44 was laced with seven fours and one six as he helped RCB get over the line with five balls to spare.

Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2022-dinesh-karthik-shahbaz-ahmed-propel-rcb-to-stunning-4-wicket-win-over-rr-468715">Dinesh Karthik, Shahbaz Ahmed propel RCB to stunning 4-wicket win over RR</a>

Post his side's win, Karthik sent a strong message to his critics and said he was not done yet. He had struggled in the IPL in his last couple of seasons with his former side Kolkata Knight Riders and Karthik wanted to make the most of it in this year's tournament.

“I think I made a conscious effort this year to do justice to myself because the last year, I felt I could have done better. The way I trained was much better this time around. Credit to the person who trained with me. I'm making a conscious effort to tell myself that I'm not done yet,” Karthik said at the post-match presentation ceremony.

“When I went in, we needed 12 rpo and had to keep going. I train for these situations. To stay calm and know whom you can take down. I've tried to play as much white-ball cricket as possible, and prepare as many scenarios as possible. Lot of people have spent time with me in this journey, leading up to the tournament and it's the work that goes unnoticed mostly. I think T20 cricket, it's mostly premeditating but you also need to be clear about where to target,” he added.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2022-jos-buttler-joins-big-names-as-rr-opener-enters-100-sixes-club-during-rcb-encounter-468670">Jos Buttler joins big names as RR opener enters 100-sixes club during RCB encounter</a>

RCB were struggling at one point in the run chase when half the team was back to the pavilion at 87/5 inside 13 overs. However, Karthik's cameo combined with Shahbaz Ahmed's 26-ball 45 helped RCB wrap up a comfortable win for his team at the end. RCB now have two wins from their first three matches so far this season.

Dinesh Karthik played a sensational knock of unbeaten 44 runs to help Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) beat Rajasthan Royals (RR) by four wickets in a thrilling encounter in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 on Tuesday.

Dinesh Karthik played a sensational knock of unbeaten 44 runs to help Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) beat Rajasthan Royals (RR) by four wickets in a thrilling encounter in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 on Tuesday. Karthik came out to bat at number seven when RCB were reeling at 87/5 in the 170-run chase and helped the team get over the line with a brilliant display. RCB got off to a good start in the run chase with openers Faf du Plessis and Anuj Rawat adding a 55-run stand for the first wicket. However, the duo departed in quick succession followed by the dismissals of Virat Kohli (5) and David Willey (5) cheaply which left RCB in a spot of bother. The required run-rate had touched 12 runs per over mark when Karthik arrived in the middle. However, the veteran wicket-keeper batter went all out right from the start of his innings and took the RR bowlers to the cleaners. Karthik's 23-ball 44 was laced with seven fours and one six as he helped RCB get over the line with five balls to spare. Also Read: Dinesh Karthik, Shahbaz Ahmed propel RCB to stunning 4-wicket win over RR Post his side's win, Karthik sent a strong message to his critics and said he was not done yet. He had struggled in the IPL in his last couple of seasons with his former side Kolkata Knight Riders and Karthik wanted to make the most of it in this year's tournament. “I think I made a conscious effort this year to do justice to myself because the last year, I felt I could have done better. The way I trained was much better this time around. Credit to the person who trained with me. I'm making a conscious effort to tell myself that I'm not done yet,” Karthik said at the post-match presentation ceremony. “When I went in, we needed 12 rpo and had to keep going. I train for these situations. To stay calm and know whom you can take down. I've tried to play as much white-ball cricket as possible, and prepare as many scenarios as possible. Lot of people have spent time with me in this journey, leading up to the tournament and it's the work that goes unnoticed mostly. I think T20 cricket, it's mostly premeditating but you also need to be clear about where to target,” he added. Also Read: Jos Buttler joins big names as RR opener enters 100-sixes club during RCB encounter RCB were struggling at one point in the run chase when half the team was back to the pavilion at 87/5 inside 13 overs. However, Karthik's cameo combined with Shahbaz Ahmed's 26-ball 45 helped RCB wrap up a comfortable win for his team at the end. RCB now have two wins from their first three matches so far this season.

I'm not done yet: Dinesh Karthik sends strong message after match-winning knock against Rajasthan Royals

Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) will be looking to continue their winning run when they take on Rajasthan Royals (RR) in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 on Tuesday. RCB lost their opening game against Punjab Kings by 5 wickets failing to defend a total of 205 runs before bouncing back to winning ways with a three-wicket victory against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in their next encounter.

RCB have been without the services of star Australian all-rounder Glenn Maxwell for their first two matches of the season and are all set to be without him in their upcoming clash against Rajasthan Royals on Tuesday. Maxwell has already joined the rest of the RCB squad in Mumbai after completing his mandatory quarantine but will not play for his side yet.

RCB's Director of Cricket Mike Hesson recently confirmed Maxwell will be available for selection only after April 06 (Wednesday). As per Cricket Australia's clause, the Australian players can't start playing for their respective teams before Wednesday irrespective of when they have joined the squad. Maxwell will thus miss the clash against Rajasthan Royals on Tuesday despite having completed his quarantine already.

"It's pretty clear from Cricket Australia's point of view that no contracted players are available before the 6th of April. So, regardless of when they arrive here, they can't play before the 6th of April. We have been well aware of that as every other side. We have planned for that. Maxi will be with us and available from the 9th," Hesson said in a video shared by RCB.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/dont-see-anything-special-in-his-captaincy-shoaib-akhtar-makes-bold-statement-on-rcb-skipper-faf-du-plessis-468472">Don’t see anything special in his captaincy: Akhtar makes bold statement on RCB skipper Du Plessis</a>

Maxwell recently got hitched to his long-time girlfriend Vini Raman in Australia. The cricketer tied the knot with her in a private ceremony before heading to Chennai for a traditional Indian wedding. In his absence, RCB have lost one and won one of their first two matches so far this season.

Maxwell's return is expected to hand a huge boost to RCB, who are currently playing Wanindu Hasaranga, David Willey, Sherfane Rutherford and Du Plessis as their four overseas players. Maxwell is likely to replace Rutherford in the line-up once he is available for selection.

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Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) will be looking to continue their winning run when they take on Rajasthan Royals (RR) in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 on Tuesday.

Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) will be looking to continue their winning run when they take on Rajasthan Royals (RR) in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 on Tuesday. RCB lost their opening game against Punjab Kings by 5 wickets failing to defend a total of 205 runs before bouncing back to winning ways with a three-wicket victory against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in their next encounter. RCB have been without the services of star Australian all-rounder Glenn Maxwell for their first two matches of the season and are all set to be without him in their upcoming clash against Rajasthan Royals on Tuesday. Maxwell has already joined the rest of the RCB squad in Mumbai after completing his mandatory quarantine but will not play for his side yet. RCB's Director of Cricket Mike Hesson recently confirmed Maxwell will be available for selection only after April 06 (Wednesday). As per Cricket Australia's clause, the Australian players can't start playing for their respective teams before Wednesday irrespective of when they have joined the squad. Maxwell will thus miss the clash against Rajasthan Royals on Tuesday despite having completed his quarantine already. "It's pretty clear from Cricket Australia's point of view that no contracted players are available before the 6th of April. So, regardless of when they arrive here, they can't play before the 6th of April. We have been well aware of that as every other side. We have planned for that. Maxi will be with us and available from the 9th," Hesson said in a video shared by RCB. Also Read: Don’t see anything special in his captaincy: Akhtar makes bold statement on RCB skipper Du Plessis Maxwell recently got hitched to his long-time girlfriend Vini Raman in Australia. The cricketer tied the knot with her in a private ceremony before heading to Chennai for a traditional Indian wedding. In his absence, RCB have lost one and won one of their first two matches so far this season. Maxwell's return is expected to hand a huge boost to RCB, who are currently playing Wanindu Hasaranga, David Willey, Sherfane Rutherford and Du Plessis as their four overseas players. Maxwell is likely to replace Rutherford in the line-up once he is available for selection. .

IPL 2022: Will Glenn Maxwell return for RCB against Rajasthan Royals? Mike Hesson provides update

Former Pakistan pacer Shoaib Akhtar said he is not a big fan of Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) captain Faf du Plessis. Du Plessis had replaced Virat Kohli as RCB skipper ahead of the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 season. While many have deemed the move a great one for the franchise, Akhtar has expressed reservations about Du Plessis' leadership qualities.

Du Plessis, who enjoyed a successful stint with Chennai Super Kings, winning a couple of IPL titles as a player, was the second-highest run-getter in IPL 2021 last year. He was roped in by RCB for a sum of Rs 7 crore (INR 70 million) at the mega auction in February this year.

The former South Africa skipper is one of the most experienced campaigners in the IPL and has been backed by many to help RCB bring an end to their title drought. However, Akhtar said he doesn't see anything special in Du Plessis as far as captaincy is concerned. The former Pakistan pacer also stated that Du Plessis doesn't look sharp as a leader on the field.

“Virat has quit leadership and Du Plessis has taken over, so he will lead in his own way. I am not a huge fan of Faf du Plessis because I don’t see anything (special) in his captaincy," said Akhtar on Sportskeeda.

“Virat has been a very unfortunate captain for both India and RCB. He tried his best, but it didn’t work for them. Having said that, Faf has a point to prove. At times, he doesn’t look that sharp during his leadership. He has been given the responsibility of leading a huge franchise, so let’s see if he is able to revive their fortunes," he added.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2022-kl-rahul-scores-50th-t20-fifty-joins-virat-kohli-and-rohit-sharma-in-elite-list-468352">KL Rahul scores 50th T20 fifty, joins Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma in elite list</a>

Du Plessis, who was roped in by CSK at the IPL 2018 mega auction after playing for Rising Pune Super Giants for two years, played an instrumental role in their success over the last few years. The former South Africa skipper has also significant experience in leading his national side in international cricket. However, Akhtar has doubts over how far can Du Plessis take RCB going forward.

“He played for Chennai for a long time and he has a good idea of how things work. However, I am not sure how far Faf will go from here. If he does that, hats off to him, but I still have my reservations," said Akhtar.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2022-srh-skipper-kane-williamson-pulls-off-sharp-catch-to-dismiss-quinton-de-kock-watch-468340">SRH skipper Kane Williamson pulls off sharp catch to dismiss Quinton de Kock - WATCH</a>

Royal Challengers Bangalore got off to a losing start in IPL 2022 as they lost their opening game against Punjab Kings by five wickets before bouncing back to beat Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) by three wickets in a thrilling encounter. RCB will take on Rajasthan Royals in their third game on Tuesday (April 05).

Former Pakistan pacer Shoaib Akhtar said he is not a big fan of Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) captain Faf du Plessis. Du Plessis had replaced Virat Kohli as RCB skipper ahead of the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 season.

Former Pakistan pacer Shoaib Akhtar said he is not a big fan of Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) captain Faf du Plessis. Du Plessis had replaced Virat Kohli as RCB skipper ahead of the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 season. While many have deemed the move a great one for the franchise, Akhtar has expressed reservations about Du Plessis' leadership qualities. Du Plessis, who enjoyed a successful stint with Chennai Super Kings, winning a couple of IPL titles as a player, was the second-highest run-getter in IPL 2021 last year. He was roped in by RCB for a sum of Rs 7 crore (INR 70 million) at the mega auction in February this year. The former South Africa skipper is one of the most experienced campaigners in the IPL and has been backed by many to help RCB bring an end to their title drought. However, Akhtar said he doesn't see anything special in Du Plessis as far as captaincy is concerned. The former Pakistan pacer also stated that Du Plessis doesn't look sharp as a leader on the field. “Virat has quit leadership and Du Plessis has taken over, so he will lead in his own way. I am not a huge fan of Faf du Plessis because I don’t see anything (special) in his captaincy," said Akhtar on Sportskeeda. “Virat has been a very unfortunate captain for both India and RCB. He tried his best, but it didn’t work for them. Having said that, Faf has a point to prove. At times, he doesn’t look that sharp during his leadership. He has been given the responsibility of leading a huge franchise, so let’s see if he is able to revive their fortunes," he added. Also Read: KL Rahul scores 50th T20 fifty, joins Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma in elite list Du Plessis, who was roped in by CSK at the IPL 2018 mega auction after playing for Rising Pune Super Giants for two years, played an instrumental role in their success over the last few years. The former South Africa skipper has also significant experience in leading his national side in international cricket. However, Akhtar has doubts over how far can Du Plessis take RCB going forward. “He played for Chennai for a long time and he has a good idea of how things work. However, I am not sure how far Faf will go from here. If he does that, hats off to him, but I still have my reservations," said Akhtar. Also Read: SRH skipper Kane Williamson pulls off sharp catch to dismiss Quinton de Kock - WATCH Royal Challengers Bangalore got off to a losing start in IPL 2022 as they lost their opening game against Punjab Kings by five wickets before bouncing back to beat Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) by three wickets in a thrilling encounter. RCB will take on Rajasthan Royals in their third game on Tuesday (April 05).

Don’t see anything special in his captaincy: Shoaib Akhtar makes bold statement on RCB skipper Faf du Plessis

Virat Kohli and Cristiano Ronaldo are, undoubtedly, superstar athletes in the modern era. While one has conquered several highs in the gentlemen's game, both for Team India and Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), the other has also taken football forward with his fitness, skills, talent, agility and presence, be it for Portugal or various club teams he has represented so far.

It is also not an unknown fact that Kohli is a huge Ronaldo fan. Recently, during an interaction, the 33-year-old Kohli shared what he will do if he woke up on one fine day and becomes Ronaldo. Stepping in as the superstar footballer, Kohli revealed what he will do in a recent video posted by the RCB Youtube channel.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-chris-gayle-virat-kohli-to-ab-de-villiers-superstar-batters-with-most-ipl-hundreds-463535">From Chris Gayle, Virat Kohli to AB de Villiers - Superstar batters with most IPL hundreds</a>

Firstly,&nbsp;the former Indian captain was asked about his favourite athlete of all time. Without any hesitation, he was quick to respond and said, "Cristiano Ronaldo." To this, he was asked&nbsp;what is the first thing that he would do if he woke up as the Portugal skipper, the former RCB captain&nbsp;replied, "I would do a scan of my brain [if he was Ronaldo] and see where all that mental strength comes from (smiles)."

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/premier-league-manchester-uniteds-hopes-of-a-top-four-finish-dented-after-draw-against-leicester-city-467922">Premier League: Manchester United's hopes of a top-four finish dented after draw against Leicester City</a>

Kohli is currently part of the three-time runners-up RCB franchise in the ongoing IPL 2022 edition in India. On the other hand, Ronaldo wasn't part of Manchester United's 1-1 draw versus Leicester City in the Premier League encounter on April 2 (Saturday).&nbsp;

Virat Kohli and Cristiano Ronaldo are, undoubtedly, superstar athletes in the modern era. While one has conquered several highs in the gentlemen's game, both for Team India and Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), the other has also taken football forward with his fitness, skills, talent, agility and presence, be it for Portugal or various club teams he has represented so far.

Virat Kohli and Cristiano Ronaldo are, undoubtedly, superstar athletes in the modern era. While one has conquered several highs in the gentlemen's game, both for Team India and Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), the other has also taken football forward with his fitness, skills, talent, agility and presence, be it for Portugal or various club teams he has represented so far. It is also not an unknown fact that Kohli is a huge Ronaldo fan. Recently, during an interaction, the 33-year-old Kohli shared what he will do if he woke up on one fine day and becomes Ronaldo. Stepping in as the superstar footballer, Kohli revealed what he will do in a recent video posted by the RCB Youtube channel. ALSO READ | From Chris Gayle, Virat Kohli to AB de Villiers - Superstar batters with most IPL hundreds Firstly, the former Indian captain was asked about his favourite athlete of all time. Without any hesitation, he was quick to respond and said, "Cristiano Ronaldo." To this, he was asked what is the first thing that he would do if he woke up as the Portugal skipper, the former RCB captain replied, "I would do a scan of my brain [if he was Ronaldo] and see where all that mental strength comes from (smiles)." ALSO READ | Premier League: Manchester United's hopes of a top-four finish dented after draw against Leicester City Kohli is currently part of the three-time runners-up RCB franchise in the ongoing IPL 2022 edition in India. On the other hand, Ronaldo wasn't part of Manchester United's 1-1 draw versus Leicester City in the Premier League encounter on April 2 (Saturday).

Virat Kohli reveals what he would do first if he woke up as Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo

Madhya Pradesh batter Rajat Patidar has been roped in by Royal Challengers Bangalore as a replacement for injured Luvnith Sisodia for the remainder of the Indian Premier League season, the franchise said on Sunday.

Patidar, who has scored 861 runs with the help of seven half-centuries at an average of 30.75 and strike-rate of 138.64 in 31 T20s, had previously represented the RCB franchise four times.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/he-is-not-finished-mohammad-kaif-makes-big-prediction-about-ms-dhonis-ipl-future-467983">'He is not finished': Mohammad Kaif makes big prediction about MS Dhoni's IPL future</a>

The 28-year-old from Indore has also scored 2588 runs in 39 first-class matches at an average of 40.43 with seven hundreds and 14 fifties. 
The right-handed batter will join RCB for Rs 20 lakh.

RCB have played two matches so far this season and won and lost a game each.

They will take on Rajasthan Royals on Tuesday at the Wankhede Stadium here.

Madhya Pradesh batter Rajat Patidar has been roped in by Royal Challengers Bangalore as a replacement for injured Luvnith Sisodia for the remainder of the Indian Premier League season, the franchise said on Sunday.

Madhya Pradesh batter Rajat Patidar has been roped in by Royal Challengers Bangalore as a replacement for injured Luvnith Sisodia for the remainder of the Indian Premier League season, the franchise said on Sunday. Patidar, who has scored 861 runs with the help of seven half-centuries at an average of 30.75 and strike-rate of 138.64 in 31 T20s, had previously represented the RCB franchise four times. ALSO READ: 'He is not finished': Mohammad Kaif makes big prediction about MS Dhoni's IPL future The 28-year-old from Indore has also scored 2588 runs in 39 first-class matches at an average of 40.43 with seven hundreds and 14 fifties. The right-handed batter will join RCB for Rs 20 lakh. RCB have played two matches so far this season and won and lost a game each. They will take on Rajasthan Royals on Tuesday at the Wankhede Stadium here.

IPL 2022: Rajat Patidar replaces injured Luvnith Sisodia in Royal Challengers Bangalore squad

From Chris Gayle to Kieron Pollard: Big-hitters with most sixes in IPL

It was a tough outing for Kolkata Knight Riders as they were defeated by Royal Challengers Bangalore in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 encounter in Mumbai on Wednesday.<o:p></o:p>

KKR suffered a mini batting collapse as they were bowled out for 128 thanks to brilliant bowling performances from Mohammad Siraj, Harshal Patel and Wanindu Hasaranga. In response, RCB found the going difficult but were able to reach the target with just four balls to spare.

<o:p>Also read |&nbsp;</o:p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/exclusive-suresh-raina-ms-dhoni-and-ab-de-villiers-were-the-most-challenging-to-bowl-to-says-sandeep-sharma-467156" hreflang="en">EXCLUSIVE: Raina, Dhoni &amp; ABD were the toughest to bowl to - Sandeep Sharma</a>

Russell bowled just 2.2 overs and ended up conceding 36 runs as he was taken to task by the RCB batsmen. The West Indies all-rounder did not look completely fit and in the post-match press conference, head coach Brendon McCullum explained why he did not bowl his full quota.<o:p></o:p>

"Dre had run around the boundary and dived, and unfortunately picked up a little bit of a bump. His shoulder was a little bit sore. But Dre being Dre, he still wants to try to get the job done, and he wasn't quite able to. Those are things which happen in low-scoring games," McCullum said.

<o:p>Also read |&nbsp;</o:p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/dinesh-karthik-is-as-close-as-it-gets-to-ms-dhoni-faf-du-plessis-lauds-rcbs-finisher-after-kkr-win-467160" hreflang="en">Faf du Plessis lauds RCB's finisher DK, compares him to MS Dhoni</a>

"I actually thought the intent was great. You back the fact that you played the extra batter, and you played a long batting line-up. You don't anticipate being bowled out obviously."<o:p></o:p>

"Honestly I felt we didn't have a lot of luck today. Every time we sort of went for our aggressive option, we seemed to find a fielder or things didn't quite go our way. That can happen sometimes. But I want us to continue to keep that intent because that served us so well last year. The way we set our teams up at the auction, and the players we picked, it suits them as well," he added.<o:p></o:p>

It was a tough outing for Kolkata Knight Riders as they were defeated by Royal Challengers Bangalore in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 encounter in Mumbai on Wednesday.

It was a tough outing for Kolkata Knight Riders as they were defeated by Royal Challengers Bangalore in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 encounter in Mumbai on Wednesday. KKR suffered a mini batting collapse as they were bowled out for 128 thanks to brilliant bowling performances from Mohammad Siraj, Harshal Patel and Wanindu Hasaranga. In response, RCB found the going difficult but were able to reach the target with just four balls to spare. Also read | EXCLUSIVE: Raina, Dhoni & ABD were the toughest to bowl to - Sandeep Sharma Russell bowled just 2.2 overs and ended up conceding 36 runs as he was taken to task by the RCB batsmen. The West Indies all-rounder did not look completely fit and in the post-match press conference, head coach Brendon McCullum explained why he did not bowl his full quota. "Dre had run around the boundary and dived, and unfortunately picked up a little bit of a bump. His shoulder was a little bit sore. But Dre being Dre, he still wants to try to get the job done, and he wasn't quite able to. Those are things which happen in low-scoring games," McCullum said. Also read | Faf du Plessis lauds RCB's finisher DK, compares him to MS Dhoni "I actually thought the intent was great. You back the fact that you played the extra batter, and you played a long batting line-up. You don't anticipate being bowled out obviously." "Honestly I felt we didn't have a lot of luck today. Every time we sort of went for our aggressive option, we seemed to find a fielder or things didn't quite go our way. That can happen sometimes. But I want us to continue to keep that intent because that served us so well last year. The way we set our teams up at the auction, and the players we picked, it suits them as well," he added.

IPL 2022: Brendon McCullum reveals why Andre Russell did not bowl his full quota against RCB

Virat Kohli is one of the fittest crickets in the world and has been an inspiration for several young players, who look up to the former India and Royal Challengers Bangalore captain. Kohli's love and dedication to fitness is a secret to none and his work ethic has been praised by many.

Kohli was not the fittest of cricketers when he had started out for Team India in international cricket but brought several changes in his lifestyle and diet to undergo a stunning transformation. One of the best batters in the world at present, Kohli has been one of the most consistent performers for his teams across all formats.

Recently, Sri Lankan batter Bhanuka Rajapaksa, who is playing for Punjab Kings (PBKS) in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022, heaped praise on Kohli. The Punjab Kings star is looking forward to meeting Kohli and getting some advice for him on fitness having been dropped from the Sri Lankan team earlier this year due to fitness issues.

Rajapaksa also called Kohli the Cristiano Ronaldo of cricket, comparing the Indian superstar with the Portuguese football icon. Even at 37, Ronaldo remains one of the fittest athletes in the world and continues to break records for his club and country.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/expecting-600-runs-from-virat-kohli-in-ipl-2022-rcb-legend-makes-bold-prediction-for-former-skipper-466934">Expecting 600-plus runs from Virat Kohli in IPL 2022: RCB legend makes bold prediction for former skipper</a>

"Outside of the team, Virat Kohli is always someone I could speak to and get some advice on fitness. He’s at another different level when it comes to fitness. To me, he is the Cristiano Ronaldo of cricket for sure. The work he puts in, you can obviously see the results. You can compare him to anyone when it comes to fitness or even skills-wise. He plays so hard and you can learn a lot by talking to him," Rajapaksa told PTI in an interview.

The Sri Lankan batter, who impressed on his IPL debut with a crucial knock of 22-ball 43 against RCB in their opening game, stressed the importance of fitness for cricketers and said he has been working hard on his body to ensure he can be on top of his game.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/would-be-great-to-see-virat-kohli-babar-azam-open-in-ipl-akhtar-predicts-price-tag-of-pakistan-captain-466900">Would be great to see Virat Kohli, Babar Azam open in IPL: Akhtar predicts price tag of Pakistan captain</a>

"As a player, you need your fitness but it could be different from person to person. For me, of course, skill comes first and then the fitness. But if you are not fit enough, you definitely can’t perform. I’m actually working hard on my fitness. Whenever I get a free day I hit the gym early in the morning," said Rajapaksa.

&nbsp;

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Virat Kohli is one of the fittest crickets in the world and has been an inspiration for several young players, who look up to the former India and Royal Challengers Bangalore captain.

Virat Kohli is one of the fittest crickets in the world and has been an inspiration for several young players, who look up to the former India and Royal Challengers Bangalore captain. Kohli's love and dedication to fitness is a secret to none and his work ethic has been praised by many. Kohli was not the fittest of cricketers when he had started out for Team India in international cricket but brought several changes in his lifestyle and diet to undergo a stunning transformation. One of the best batters in the world at present, Kohli has been one of the most consistent performers for his teams across all formats. Recently, Sri Lankan batter Bhanuka Rajapaksa, who is playing for Punjab Kings (PBKS) in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022, heaped praise on Kohli. The Punjab Kings star is looking forward to meeting Kohli and getting some advice for him on fitness having been dropped from the Sri Lankan team earlier this year due to fitness issues. Rajapaksa also called Kohli the Cristiano Ronaldo of cricket, comparing the Indian superstar with the Portuguese football icon. Even at 37, Ronaldo remains one of the fittest athletes in the world and continues to break records for his club and country. Also Read: Expecting 600-plus runs from Virat Kohli in IPL 2022: RCB legend makes bold prediction for former skipper "Outside of the team, Virat Kohli is always someone I could speak to and get some advice on fitness. He’s at another different level when it comes to fitness. To me, he is the Cristiano Ronaldo of cricket for sure. The work he puts in, you can obviously see the results. You can compare him to anyone when it comes to fitness or even skills-wise. He plays so hard and you can learn a lot by talking to him," Rajapaksa told PTI in an interview. The Sri Lankan batter, who impressed on his IPL debut with a crucial knock of 22-ball 43 against RCB in their opening game, stressed the importance of fitness for cricketers and said he has been working hard on his body to ensure he can be on top of his game. Also Read: Would be great to see Virat Kohli, Babar Azam open in IPL: Akhtar predicts price tag of Pakistan captain "As a player, you need your fitness but it could be different from person to person. For me, of course, skill comes first and then the fitness. But if you are not fit enough, you definitely can’t perform. I’m actually working hard on my fitness. Whenever I get a free day I hit the gym early in the morning," said Rajapaksa.

Virat Kohli is Cristiano Ronaldo of cricket: Punjab Kings star lavishes praise on former RCB skipper

A lot will be riding on Virat Kohli's shoulders as Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) head into a new era under the captaincy of Faf du Plessis. RCB got off to a shaky start in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 as they lost their opening game against Punjab Kings by five wickets. They will be looking to bounce back when they take on Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in their next game on Tuesday (March 30).

Ahead of their game against KKR, RCB legend AB de Villiers spoke about the team's chances this season and backed Kohli to have a big season for the franchise. De Villiers, who is one of the legends of the game, believes Kohli can go on to score over 600 runs this season after being relieved from the pressure of captaincy.

"Everyone knows about Faf du Plessis coming in as captain. I think the most exciting thing for me is Virat not being captain and releasing a bit of the pressure, really just going out there and freeing up. I am expecting a very big season from Virat. I am thinking 600+ runs from him this year," said AB de Villiers on VUSport Streaming channel on YouTube.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/truth-is-bitter-parthiv-patel-shares-cryptic-tweet-after-his-comments-on-kohli-bumrah-go-viral-466890">'Truth is bitter': Parthiv Patel shares cryptic tweet after his comments on Kohli, Bumrah go viral</a>

De Villiers retired from all forms of cricket after the conclusion of IPL 2021 last year and is not part of the RCB squad anymore. However, he remains one of the ardent supporters of the franchise and is hopeful of some brilliant performances from the youngsters in the franchise in IPL 2022.

"He (Kohli) will be in Faf's ear, but Faf is also very experienced as well. He has got good cricketing training on him and he would allow Virat and some of the youngsters to just go and free up, and just enjoy the IPL," said De Villiers.

"I don’t know what to expect (from RCB) but I expect some individuals to really rise in this IPL from the RCB setup," he added.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2022-rcb-vs-kkr-head-to-head-record-trivia-stats-and-squads-466921">IPL 2022: RCB vs KKR - Head to head record, trivia, stats and squads</a>

In De Villiers' absence, Kohli will have a lot more run-scoring responsibilities on his shoulder as the former South Africa star was a pillar in the RCB batting line-up over the years. De Villiers and Kohli won several matches together for the team and were one of the most prolific duos in the history of the tournament.

While De Villiers has retired, RCB is also missing the services of star Australian all-rounder Glenn Maxwell for the start of the season. Maxwell is currently busy due to his marriage and is expected to join the rest of the squad soon for the ongoing season.

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A lot will be riding on Virat Kohli's shoulders as Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) head into a new era under the captaincy of Faf du Plessis. RCB got off to a shaky start in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 as they lost their opening game against Punjab Kings by five wickets.

A lot will be riding on Virat Kohli's shoulders as Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) head into a new era under the captaincy of Faf du Plessis. RCB got off to a shaky start in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 as they lost their opening game against Punjab Kings by five wickets. They will be looking to bounce back when they take on Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in their next game on Tuesday (March 30). Ahead of their game against KKR, RCB legend AB de Villiers spoke about the team's chances this season and backed Kohli to have a big season for the franchise. De Villiers, who is one of the legends of the game, believes Kohli can go on to score over 600 runs this season after being relieved from the pressure of captaincy. "Everyone knows about Faf du Plessis coming in as captain. I think the most exciting thing for me is Virat not being captain and releasing a bit of the pressure, really just going out there and freeing up. I am expecting a very big season from Virat. I am thinking 600+ runs from him this year," said AB de Villiers on VUSport Streaming channel on YouTube. Also Read: 'Truth is bitter': Parthiv Patel shares cryptic tweet after his comments on Kohli, Bumrah go viral De Villiers retired from all forms of cricket after the conclusion of IPL 2021 last year and is not part of the RCB squad anymore. However, he remains one of the ardent supporters of the franchise and is hopeful of some brilliant performances from the youngsters in the franchise in IPL 2022. "He (Kohli) will be in Faf's ear, but Faf is also very experienced as well. He has got good cricketing training on him and he would allow Virat and some of the youngsters to just go and free up, and just enjoy the IPL," said De Villiers. "I don’t know what to expect (from RCB) but I expect some individuals to really rise in this IPL from the RCB setup," he added. Also Read: IPL 2022: RCB vs KKR - Head to head record, trivia, stats and squads In De Villiers' absence, Kohli will have a lot more run-scoring responsibilities on his shoulder as the former South Africa star was a pillar in the RCB batting line-up over the years. De Villiers and Kohli won several matches together for the team and were one of the most prolific duos in the history of the tournament. While De Villiers has retired, RCB is also missing the services of star Australian all-rounder Glenn Maxwell for the start of the season. Maxwell is currently busy due to his marriage and is expected to join the rest of the squad soon for the ongoing season.

Expecting 600-plus runs from Virat Kohli in IPL 2022: RCB legend makes bold prediction for former skipper

Former India wicket-keeper batter Parthiv Patel shared a cryptic tweet after his comments involving Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah went viral on social media recently. Patel, who played for the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) during his playing days, had claimed he had once asked Kohli to try Jasprit Bumrah for RCB before the fast bowler went on to make a name for himself in the IPL.

During a conversation on Cricbuzz, Parthiv had revealed that he had informed Kohli about Bumrah in 2014 when the Indian pacer was an unknown entity. However, Kohli had brushed off his suggestions in a rather ignorant manner and said players like Bumrah won't be of much help to a team like RCB.

"In 2014, when I was at RCB, I told Kohli there's this bowler named Bumrah. Have a look at him. Virat replied saying 'Chhor na yaar. Ye Bumrah-Vumrah kya karenge?' (Leave it. What will such players do?" Parthiv had said on Cricbuzz.

The former RCB wicket-keeper batter's comments soon went viral on social media as fans reacted to Kohli's alleged reaction on Bumrah becoming the talk of the town. Kohli, who has stepped down as captain of RCB, was criticised by many for failing to spot Bumrah's talent as the fast bowler has now become one of the best in the world.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/horrible-decision-3rd-umpire-slammed-after-kane-williamsons-controversial-dismissal-against-rr-in-ipl-2022-466769">'Horrible decision': 3rd umpire slammed after Williamson's controversial dismissal against RR&nbsp;</a>

Parthiv took to Twitter recently to share a cryptic tweet that seems to be in relation to the fans' reaction to his revelation about the episode involving Kohli and Bumrah."Neem patta aur sach dono kadwa hai (Neem leaves and truth are both bitter)," Parthiv tweeted.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
neem patta aur sach 
dono kadwa hai!
— parthiv patel (@parthiv9) <a href="https://twitter.com/parthiv9/status/1508494428595400705?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 28, 2022</a></blockquote>
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Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/what-will-he-do-when-virat-kohli-brushed-away-parthiv-patels-suggestion-to-try-jaspit-bumrah-for-rcb-466302">'What will he do': When Kohli brushed away Parthiv Patel's suggestion to try&nbsp;Bumrah for RCB</a>&nbsp;

Bumrah made his IPL debut for Mumbai Indians in the year 2013 and has since been retained by the franchise. The Indian fast bowler has become an integral member of the Mumbai Indians squad and has been one of the most prolific wicket-takers in the IPL over the years. Bumrah has 130 wickets to his name at an average of 23.37 in 107 matches in his IPL career so far.

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Former India wicket-keeper batter Parthiv Patel shared a cryptic tweet after his comments involving Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah went viral on social media recently.

Former India wicket-keeper batter Parthiv Patel shared a cryptic tweet after his comments involving Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah went viral on social media recently. Patel, who played for the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) during his playing days, had claimed he had once asked Kohli to try Jasprit Bumrah for RCB before the fast bowler went on to make a name for himself in the IPL. During a conversation on Cricbuzz, Parthiv had revealed that he had informed Kohli about Bumrah in 2014 when the Indian pacer was an unknown entity. However, Kohli had brushed off his suggestions in a rather ignorant manner and said players like Bumrah won't be of much help to a team like RCB. "In 2014, when I was at RCB, I told Kohli there's this bowler named Bumrah. Have a look at him. Virat replied saying 'Chhor na yaar. Ye Bumrah-Vumrah kya karenge?' (Leave it. What will such players do?" Parthiv had said on Cricbuzz. The former RCB wicket-keeper batter's comments soon went viral on social media as fans reacted to Kohli's alleged reaction on Bumrah becoming the talk of the town. Kohli, who has stepped down as captain of RCB, was criticised by many for failing to spot Bumrah's talent as the fast bowler has now become one of the best in the world. Also Read: 'Horrible decision': 3rd umpire slammed after Williamson's controversial dismissal against RR Parthiv took to Twitter recently to share a cryptic tweet that seems to be in relation to the fans' reaction to his revelation about the episode involving Kohli and Bumrah."Neem patta aur sach dono kadwa hai (Neem leaves and truth are both bitter)," Parthiv tweeted. neem patta aur sach dono kadwa hai! — parthiv patel (@parthiv9) March 28, 2022 × Also Read: 'What will he do': When Kohli brushed away Parthiv Patel's suggestion to try Bumrah for RCB Bumrah made his IPL debut for Mumbai Indians in the year 2013 and has since been retained by the franchise. The Indian fast bowler has become an integral member of the Mumbai Indians squad and has been one of the most prolific wicket-takers in the IPL over the years. Bumrah has 130 wickets to his name at an average of 23.37 in 107 matches in his IPL career so far.

'Truth is bitter': Parthiv Patel shares cryptic tweet after his comments on Kohli, Bumrah go viral

Soon after the end of IPL 2021, AB de Villiers dropped a bomb. The former South African captain announced his retirement from all forms of the game in mid-November and, thus, ended his ten-year-long association with the Virat Kohli-starrer Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) franchise.

During his IPL career, de Villiers represented the Delhi Daredevils (now known as the Delhi Capitals) but spent majority of his days at the RCB camp. Overall, he signed off with 5,162 runs -- sixth-most overall -- but ended up scoring 4,491 runs from 128 matches for the Bengaluru-based franchise and led them to the playoffs on five occasions. However, he couldn't help RCB end their title-drought.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2022-padikkal-or-jaiswal-as-buttlers-opening-partner-predicting-sanju-samson-led-rrs-playing-xi-vs-srh-466642">IPL 2022: Padikkal or Jaiswal as Buttler's opening partner? Predicting Sanju Samson-led RR's playing XI vs SRH</a>

Recently, former RCB captain Virat Kohli recalled de Villiers' retirement. The two had become one of the most successful batting pairs in IPL, combining together to lead RCB to some mammoth scores and memorable wins.

“It’s very strange I mean, I clearly remember when he decided to finally call it a day. He sent me a voice note, we were coming back from Dubai after the (T20) World Cup. I got a voice note from AB de Villiers while we were driving back home. I opened it and while I was listening to it, I looked at Anushka in shock. My face fell to which she questioned, I showed her the message and the voice note from AB and she exclaimed, ‘Don’t tell me!’. She knew," Kohli said on RCB&nbsp;Bold Diaries.

He further revealed, "I kind of had the impression and was guessing it in the last IPL. Our rooms were next to each other, and we would walk the same way and disperse, every time we walked to our room and he would see me outside, he would be like ‘I want to see you for coffee, one of these days. I kept getting nervous and was like ‘I am not sitting with you because I think there is something coming’ to which he always said ‘No man there is nothing, I just want to have a chat with you, it’s been a while and he never speaks like that because we interact all the time. So, I knew something is brewing up. It is a very strange feeling I got very emotional. The voice note was very emotional as well for me when he said, ‘Look I don’t have it in me anymore. I have shared so many moments with him, highs and lows, everything we have been through he was right next to me."

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ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/old-vintage-virat-kohli-aakash-chopra-praises-former-rcb-skipper-for-his-unbeaten-41-vs-pbks-466370">Old vintage Virat Kohli: Aakash Chopra praises former RCB skipper for his unbeaten 41 vs PBKS</a>

Before signing off, Kohli opined that he will think about ABD and his contributions for RCB if they manage to win their maiden title in the ongoing season. "The other day, it got me thinking, if we manage to win the title in the coming seasons, I would be very emotional thinking about him first. Rather than what I would experience after such hard work of so many years, I would actually think of him. It would still mean a lot to him even if he is watching the game from home. He is a special human being as he has touched everyone, and we all can vouch for that. He has been amazing, and I don’t think there is one person who can say that AB de Villiers has not contributed to their lives in some way or the other,” Kohli added.

RCB got off to a losing start in IPL 2022, going down to Punjab Kings (PBKS) by five wickets on Sunday (March 27).
</section>

Soon after the end of IPL 2021, AB de Villiers dropped a bomb. The former South African captain announced his retirement from all forms of the game in mid-November and, thus, ended his ten-year-long association with the Virat Kohli-starrer Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) franchise.

Soon after the end of IPL 2021, AB de Villiers dropped a bomb. The former South African captain announced his retirement from all forms of the game in mid-November and, thus, ended his ten-year-long association with the Virat Kohli-starrer Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) franchise. During his IPL career, de Villiers represented the Delhi Daredevils (now known as the Delhi Capitals) but spent majority of his days at the RCB camp. Overall, he signed off with 5,162 runs -- sixth-most overall -- but ended up scoring 4,491 runs from 128 matches for the Bengaluru-based franchise and led them to the playoffs on five occasions. However, he couldn't help RCB end their title-drought. ALSO READ | IPL 2022: Padikkal or Jaiswal as Buttler's opening partner? Predicting Sanju Samson-led RR's playing XI vs SRH Recently, former RCB captain Virat Kohli recalled de Villiers' retirement. The two had become one of the most successful batting pairs in IPL, combining together to lead RCB to some mammoth scores and memorable wins. “It’s very strange I mean, I clearly remember when he decided to finally call it a day. He sent me a voice note, we were coming back from Dubai after the (T20) World Cup. I got a voice note from AB de Villiers while we were driving back home. I opened it and while I was listening to it, I looked at Anushka in shock. My face fell to which she questioned, I showed her the message and the voice note from AB and she exclaimed, ‘Don’t tell me!’. She knew," Kohli said on RCB Bold Diaries. He further revealed, "I kind of had the impression and was guessing it in the last IPL. Our rooms were next to each other, and we would walk the same way and disperse, every time we walked to our room and he would see me outside, he would be like ‘I want to see you for coffee, one of these days. I kept getting nervous and was like ‘I am not sitting with you because I think there is something coming’ to which he always said ‘No man there is nothing, I just want to have a chat with you, it’s been a while and he never speaks like that because we interact all the time. So, I knew something is brewing up. It is a very strange feeling I got very emotional. The voice note was very emotional as well for me when he said, ‘Look I don’t have it in me anymore. I have shared so many moments with him, highs and lows, everything we have been through he was right next to me." ALSO READ | Old vintage Virat Kohli: Aakash Chopra praises former RCB skipper for his unbeaten 41 vs PBKS Before signing off, Kohli opined that he will think about ABD and his contributions for RCB if they manage to win their maiden title in the ongoing season. "The other day, it got me thinking, if we manage to win the title in the coming seasons, I would be very emotional thinking about him first. Rather than what I would experience after such hard work of so many years, I would actually think of him. It would still mean a lot to him even if he is watching the game from home. He is a special human being as he has touched everyone, and we all can vouch for that. He has been amazing, and I don’t think there is one person who can say that AB de Villiers has not contributed to their lives in some way or the other,” Kohli added. RCB got off to a losing start in IPL 2022, going down to Punjab Kings (PBKS) by five wickets on Sunday (March 27).

'I looked at Anushka Sharma in shock' - Virat Kohli recalls AB de Villiers' shocking IPL retirement

Newly-appointed skipper Faf du Plessis' scintillating 57-ball 88 went in vain as Punjab Kings produced a solid batting display to script a successful chase for a five-wicket win over Royal Challengers Bangalore in a thrilling IPL match here on Sunday.

While Du Plessis showed his six-hitting prowess, hammering seven maximums in his whirlwind knock, Virat Kohli also chipped in with an unbeaten 41 off 29 balls and Dinesh Karthik made a quick fire 32 not out as RCB posted a massive 205 for 2 after being invited to bat.

The chase was steep but not impossible and Punjab produced a sensational effort to overhaul the target, scoring 208 for 5 with an entire over to spare.

While Mayank Agarwal (32 off 24) and Shikhar Dhawan (43 off 29) added 71 for the first wicket to lay the foundation for the chase, Bhanuka Rajapaksa (43 off 22) also shone on his IPL debut but Punjab suffered a collapse to be down and out at 156 for 5.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/rcb-skipper-faf-du-plessis-scripts-ipl-history-with-brilliant-knock-against-punjab-kings-466087">Faf du Plessis scripts IPL history with brilliant knock against Punjab Kings</a>

However, Shahrukh Khan (24 not out off 20 balls) and Odean Smith (25 not out off 8 balls) then joined hands to complete the job in the end. The duo shared a 52-run unbroken stand off just 25 balls for the sixth wicket to take Punjab home.

Smith smashed three sixes and a four off Mohammed Siraj in the 18th over to accumulate 25 runs and bring down the equation to 11 from the final two overs.

Shahrukh, who hit one four and two maximums, finished the game with a boundary as Mayank Agarwal started his captaincy tenure with a win.

Earlier, RCB skipper du Plessis and Kohli added 118 runs for the second wicket after the former and Anuj Rawat (21) had laid the foundation with their 50 run-stand.

RCB amassed 11 'extra' runs, off the second over off Arshdeep Singh. Du Plessis got his first boundary in the third, while in the same over, Rawat hit his first maximum, as RCB raced to 23/0.

Rawat hit successive boundaries in the sixth over, off Odean Smith. But leg-spinner Rahul Chahar (1/22) cut shot Rawat's stay by cleaning him up in the seventh over.

Kohli came in and he took time to settle down.

After successive twos, Kohli's first maximum came in the 10th over as RCB fetched 13 runs off it and at 70/1, the foundation was laid for a big total.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2022-mumbai-indians-skipper-rohit-sharma-fined-rs-12-lakh-for-slow-over-rate-against-delhi-capitals-466077" hreflang="en">MI skipper Rohit Sharma fined Rs 12 lakh for slow over-rate vs DC</a>

The former South Africa skipper, who got a 'life', made optimum use of it and then upped the ante, as the carnage started from the 12th over when he hammered a towering six off Liam Livingstone.

Du Plessis was brutal on Odean Smith, whom he hammered for a boundary and two successive sixes. He followed it up with two sixes off Harpreet Brar (0/38).

Kohli, who hit a four and two sixes, was also in his elements, as he played shots at will. He, however, played second fiddle to Du Plessis when the South African was in full flow.

Du Plessis was dismissed in the 18th over, but by then the damage had been done.

A quick-fire 32 from Karthik off just 14 balls, in which he smashed three sixes and as many fours, took RCB beyond the 200-run mark.&nbsp;

Newly-appointed skipper Faf du Plessis' scintillating 57-ball 88 went in vain as Punjab Kings produced a solid batting display to script a successful chase for a five-wicket win over Royal Challengers Bangalore in a thrilling IPL match here on Sunday.

Newly-appointed skipper Faf du Plessis' scintillating 57-ball 88 went in vain as Punjab Kings produced a solid batting display to script a successful chase for a five-wicket win over Royal Challengers Bangalore in a thrilling IPL match here on Sunday. While Du Plessis showed his six-hitting prowess, hammering seven maximums in his whirlwind knock, Virat Kohli also chipped in with an unbeaten 41 off 29 balls and Dinesh Karthik made a quick fire 32 not out as RCB posted a massive 205 for 2 after being invited to bat. The chase was steep but not impossible and Punjab produced a sensational effort to overhaul the target, scoring 208 for 5 with an entire over to spare. While Mayank Agarwal (32 off 24) and Shikhar Dhawan (43 off 29) added 71 for the first wicket to lay the foundation for the chase, Bhanuka Rajapaksa (43 off 22) also shone on his IPL debut but Punjab suffered a collapse to be down and out at 156 for 5. Also read | Faf du Plessis scripts IPL history with brilliant knock against Punjab Kings However, Shahrukh Khan (24 not out off 20 balls) and Odean Smith (25 not out off 8 balls) then joined hands to complete the job in the end. The duo shared a 52-run unbroken stand off just 25 balls for the sixth wicket to take Punjab home. Smith smashed three sixes and a four off Mohammed Siraj in the 18th over to accumulate 25 runs and bring down the equation to 11 from the final two overs. Shahrukh, who hit one four and two maximums, finished the game with a boundary as Mayank Agarwal started his captaincy tenure with a win. Earlier, RCB skipper du Plessis and Kohli added 118 runs for the second wicket after the former and Anuj Rawat (21) had laid the foundation with their 50 run-stand. RCB amassed 11 'extra' runs, off the second over off Arshdeep Singh. Du Plessis got his first boundary in the third, while in the same over, Rawat hit his first maximum, as RCB raced to 23/0. Rawat hit successive boundaries in the sixth over, off Odean Smith. But leg-spinner Rahul Chahar (1/22) cut shot Rawat's stay by cleaning him up in the seventh over. Kohli came in and he took time to settle down. After successive twos, Kohli's first maximum came in the 10th over as RCB fetched 13 runs off it and at 70/1, the foundation was laid for a big total. Also read | MI skipper Rohit Sharma fined Rs 12 lakh for slow over-rate vs DC The former South Africa skipper, who got a 'life', made optimum use of it and then upped the ante, as the carnage started from the 12th over when he hammered a towering six off Liam Livingstone. Du Plessis was brutal on Odean Smith, whom he hammered for a boundary and two successive sixes. He followed it up with two sixes off Harpreet Brar (0/38). Kohli, who hit a four and two sixes, was also in his elements, as he played shots at will. He, however, played second fiddle to Du Plessis when the South African was in full flow. Du Plessis was dismissed in the 18th over, but by then the damage had been done. A quick-fire 32 from Karthik off just 14 balls, in which he smashed three sixes and as many fours, took RCB beyond the 200-run mark.

IPL 2022: Punjab Kings pull off sensational run chase to beat Royal Challengers Bangalore

Punjab Kings pulled off a sensational run chase to defeat Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in their first match of Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 but in the process, the two teams also broke the record of most extras recorded during an IPL game as both set of bowlers struggled in Mumbai.

<o:p>Also read |&nbsp;</o:p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2022-numbers-reveal-one-area-of-concern-for-lucknow-super-giants-skipper-kl-rahul-466400" hreflang="en">Numbers reveal one area of concern for Lucknow Super Giants skipper KL Rahul</a>

A total of 45 extras was conceded by both sides – the most ever in the history of IPL surpassing the previous record of 38 which was registered on two instances. It happened in 2008 during the match between Deccan Chargers and Kolkata Knight Riders. A similar figure was record again when Kings XI Punjab (as Punjab Kings were previously known) took on Mumbai Indians in the IPL 2010 season.<o:p></o:p>

Punjab’s tally of 23 extras was also the sixth highest in IPL history followed by RCB’s 22. The top spot in the list belongs to Kolkata Knight Riders who conceded 28 extras in the 2008 encounter.

<o:p>Also read |&nbsp;</o:p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-providing-so-many-talents-to-indian-cricket-psl-hardly-doing-anything-for-pakistan-says-dinesh-kaneria-466351" hreflang="en">"IPL providing so many talents to Indian cricket, PSL hardly doing anything"</a>

It was a tough day for the bowlers as a combined 413 runs was scored at the DY Patil Stadium in Mumbai. Punjab ended up conceding 5 byes, 6 leg byes and 12 wides while RCB conceded one leg bye and 21 wides – 14 of which were bowled by their pace spearhead Mohammed Siraj.<o:p></o:p>

Faf Du Plessis scored a brilliant 88 to guide RCB to a challenging 205/2 after 20 overs but Punjab were able to register their third-highest successful chase in IPL history to clinch the encounter as Odean Smith and Shah Rukh Khan played a blinder towards the end of the innings to win with one over to spare.

Punjab Kings pulled off a sensational run chase to defeat Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in their first match of Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 but in the process, the two teams also broke the record of most extras recorded during an IPL game as both set of bowlers struggled in Mumbai.

Punjab Kings pulled off a sensational run chase to defeat Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in their first match of Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 but in the process, the two teams also broke the record of most extras recorded during an IPL game as both set of bowlers struggled in Mumbai. Also read | Numbers reveal one area of concern for Lucknow Super Giants skipper KL Rahul A total of 45 extras was conceded by both sides – the most ever in the history of IPL surpassing the previous record of 38 which was registered on two instances. It happened in 2008 during the match between Deccan Chargers and Kolkata Knight Riders. A similar figure was record again when Kings XI Punjab (as Punjab Kings were previously known) took on Mumbai Indians in the IPL 2010 season. Punjab’s tally of 23 extras was also the sixth highest in IPL history followed by RCB’s 22. The top spot in the list belongs to Kolkata Knight Riders who conceded 28 extras in the 2008 encounter. Also read | "IPL providing so many talents to Indian cricket, PSL hardly doing anything" It was a tough day for the bowlers as a combined 413 runs was scored at the DY Patil Stadium in Mumbai. Punjab ended up conceding 5 byes, 6 leg byes and 12 wides while RCB conceded one leg bye and 21 wides – 14 of which were bowled by their pace spearhead Mohammed Siraj. Faf Du Plessis scored a brilliant 88 to guide RCB to a challenging 205/2 after 20 overs but Punjab were able to register their third-highest successful chase in IPL history to clinch the encounter as Odean Smith and Shah Rukh Khan played a blinder towards the end of the innings to win with one over to spare.

33 wides! RCB and Punjab Kings register bizarre record in high-scoring IPL 2022 clash

Indian leg spinner Yuzvendra Chahal was roped in by Rajasthan Royals at the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 mega auction last month after being released by Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB). Chahal was part of the RCB squad for total of eight seasons from IPL 2014 to 2021 before being released by the franchise ahead of the ongoing season.

One of the best spinners in the league at present, Chahal enjoyed an incredibly successful spell at RCB and became their leading wicket-taker of all time with 139 wickets in 113 matches at an average of 22.03. The leg-spinner recently opened up on parting ways with his former side and said he had never thought he would play for some other team in the IPL.

Chahal said the RCB management didn't have any discussions with him about retaining him ahead of the IPL 2022 mega auction nor was there any sort of an offer from the franchise for him. Chahal revealed RCB's Director of Cricket Mike Hesson had called him before the auction to inform him that the franchise was retaining three players - Virat Kohli, Glenn Maxwell and Mohammed Siraj.

Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/what-will-he-do-when-virat-kohli-brushed-away-parthiv-patels-suggestion-to-try-jaspit-bumrah-for-rcb-466302">When Virat Kohli brushed away Parthiv Patel's suggestion to try Jaspit Bumrah for RCB</a>

"I am emotionally attached to RCB. I never thought I would play for some other team. People and fans on social media are still asking me ‘why did you ask for this much money?’. The reality is that Mike Hesson (RCB Director of Cricket) called me and said ‘Listen Yuzi, there are three retentions’ (Virat Kohli, Glenn Maxwell and Mohammed Siraj)," Chahal said in an interview with Times of India.

"They didn’t ask me whether I wanted to be retained or tell me if they wanted to retain me. They just talked about the three retentions and I was told that – ‘we will go for you in the auction’. Neither was I asked about money nor did I get any offer of retention. But I will always be loyal to my Bangalore fans. I love them so much, no matter what," he added.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2022-want-to-emulate-my-brother-ms-dhoni-gt-captain-hardik-pandya-sends-warning-to-other-teams-466383">'Want to emulate my brother MS Dhoni': GT captain Hardik Pandya sends warning to other teams</a>

Chahal now has a new side in Rajasthan Royals and is looking to repeat his heroics from the past seasons for his new team this year. The leg-spinner was roped in by RR for a sum of Rs 6.5 crore (INR 65 million) at the mega auction and is raring to repay the faith shown in him by the franchise.

"Obviously. The jersey will be different, but the Yuzi will be the same. You will see the same kind of wicket-taking performances and celebrations from me. It’s a new journey for me and I am very excited about it. Everything will be the same, only the jersey will change. The way I bowled and performed for RCB, I will do the same for RR as well. Nothing is going to change. RR showed faith in me at the auction," said Chahal, who has 139 wickets to his name in 100 matches in his IPL career.

Indian leg spinner Yuzvendra Chahal was roped in by Rajasthan Royals at the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 mega auction last month after being released by Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB).

Indian leg spinner Yuzvendra Chahal was roped in by Rajasthan Royals at the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 mega auction last month after being released by Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB). Chahal was part of the RCB squad for total of eight seasons from IPL 2014 to 2021 before being released by the franchise ahead of the ongoing season. One of the best spinners in the league at present, Chahal enjoyed an incredibly successful spell at RCB and became their leading wicket-taker of all time with 139 wickets in 113 matches at an average of 22.03. The leg-spinner recently opened up on parting ways with his former side and said he had never thought he would play for some other team in the IPL. Chahal said the RCB management didn't have any discussions with him about retaining him ahead of the IPL 2022 mega auction nor was there any sort of an offer from the franchise for him. Chahal revealed RCB's Director of Cricket Mike Hesson had called him before the auction to inform him that the franchise was retaining three players - Virat Kohli, Glenn Maxwell and Mohammed Siraj. Also Read: When Virat Kohli brushed away Parthiv Patel's suggestion to try Jaspit Bumrah for RCB "I am emotionally attached to RCB. I never thought I would play for some other team. People and fans on social media are still asking me ‘why did you ask for this much money?’. The reality is that Mike Hesson (RCB Director of Cricket) called me and said ‘Listen Yuzi, there are three retentions’ (Virat Kohli, Glenn Maxwell and Mohammed Siraj)," Chahal said in an interview with Times of India. "They didn’t ask me whether I wanted to be retained or tell me if they wanted to retain me. They just talked about the three retentions and I was told that – ‘we will go for you in the auction’. Neither was I asked about money nor did I get any offer of retention. But I will always be loyal to my Bangalore fans. I love them so much, no matter what," he added. Also Read: 'Want to emulate my brother MS Dhoni': GT captain Hardik Pandya sends warning to other teams Chahal now has a new side in Rajasthan Royals and is looking to repeat his heroics from the past seasons for his new team this year. The leg-spinner was roped in by RR for a sum of Rs 6.5 crore (INR 65 million) at the mega auction and is raring to repay the faith shown in him by the franchise. "Obviously. The jersey will be different, but the Yuzi will be the same. You will see the same kind of wicket-taking performances and celebrations from me. It’s a new journey for me and I am very excited about it. Everything will be the same, only the jersey will change. The way I bowled and performed for RCB, I will do the same for RR as well. Nothing is going to change. RR showed faith in me at the auction," said Chahal, who has 139 wickets to his name in 100 matches in his IPL career.

RCB didn't ask if I wanted to be retained, never thought I would play for another IPL team: Yuzvendra Chahal

Jasprit Bumrah is currently one of the best pacers in the Indian Premier League (IPL). The Mumbai Indians (MI) fast bowler has been one of the most prolific wicket-takers in the league over the years and has been delivering brilliant performances with the ball consistently for the five-time champions.

Bumrah, who made his IPL debut for Mumbai Indians in the year 2013, has come a long way and has established his credentials as one of the best in the world. Bumrah might have made his IPl debut in the year 2013 but he got to play only two matches that season.

Bumrah enjoyed a breakthrough season in IPL 2016 where he played regularly for Mumbai Indians and ended up with 15 wickets in 14 matches. He has never looked back since and is currently an integral member of the Indian pace attack across all formats as well.

However, Bumrah could have ended up at Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and not Mumbai Indians had former RCB skipper Virat Kohli listened to his former RCB teammate Parthiv Patel's advice back in 2014. Parthiv, who used to captain Gujarat at the time in domestic cricket, had seen Bumrah play and rated the youngster highly.

Also Read:<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/holder-to-stoinis-overseas-stars-who-will-miss-lucknow-super-giants-vs-gujarat-titans-clash-in-ipl-2022-466263">&nbsp;Holder to Stoinis: Overseas stars who will miss Lucknow Super Giants vs Gujarat Titans clash in IPL 2022</a>

Parthiv was part of the RCB squad in the IPL back then and suggested to Kohli that he should try Bumrah for the franchise. However, Kohli didn't take his advice seriously and brushed off the suggestion saying that players like Bumrah can't do much for the team.

“In 2014, when I was at RCB, I told Kohli there’s this bowler named Bumrah. Have a look at him. Virat replied saying ‘Chhor na yaar. Ye Bumrah-Vumrah kya karenge?’ (Leave it. What will such players do?),” Parthiv told Cricbuzz.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2022-krunal-pandya-deepak-hooda-to-feature-lucknow-super-giants-predicted-playing-xi-for-gt-clash-466274">Krunal Pandya, Deepak Hooda to feature? Lucknow Super Giants' predicted playing XI for GT clash</a>

When Bumrah broke into the Gujarat Ranji side, he was mentored by Parthiv in the initial years. The former RCB wicket-keeper batter revealed Bumrah struggled to make an impression early in his career but worked hard to stand where he is today.

&nbsp;“When he was first picked, Bumrah played Ranji Trophy for the first 2-3 years. 2013 was his first year, and he didn't have a good season in 2014. In 2015, it was so bad that there were discussions going on that he might have to be sent back home mid-season. But, he slowly began improving and Mumbai Indians really backed him. It was his own hard work and such backing that really brought out the best in him,” Parthiv added.&nbsp;

Bumrah has so far played 107 matches for Mumbai Indians in the IPL and has 130 wickets to his name at an&nbsp;average of 23.37. He was retained by Mumbai Indians for a sum of Rs 12 crore (INR 120 million) ahead of the ongoing season.

Jasprit Bumrah is currently one of the best pacers in the Indian Premier League (IPL). The Mumbai Indians (MI) fast bowler has been one of the most prolific wicket-takers in the league over the years and has been delivering brilliant performances with the ball consistently for the five-time champions.

Jasprit Bumrah is currently one of the best pacers in the Indian Premier League (IPL). The Mumbai Indians (MI) fast bowler has been one of the most prolific wicket-takers in the league over the years and has been delivering brilliant performances with the ball consistently for the five-time champions. Bumrah, who made his IPL debut for Mumbai Indians in the year 2013, has come a long way and has established his credentials as one of the best in the world. Bumrah might have made his IPl debut in the year 2013 but he got to play only two matches that season. Bumrah enjoyed a breakthrough season in IPL 2016 where he played regularly for Mumbai Indians and ended up with 15 wickets in 14 matches. He has never looked back since and is currently an integral member of the Indian pace attack across all formats as well. However, Bumrah could have ended up at Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and not Mumbai Indians had former RCB skipper Virat Kohli listened to his former RCB teammate Parthiv Patel's advice back in 2014. Parthiv, who used to captain Gujarat at the time in domestic cricket, had seen Bumrah play and rated the youngster highly. Also Read: Holder to Stoinis: Overseas stars who will miss Lucknow Super Giants vs Gujarat Titans clash in IPL 2022 Parthiv was part of the RCB squad in the IPL back then and suggested to Kohli that he should try Bumrah for the franchise. However, Kohli didn't take his advice seriously and brushed off the suggestion saying that players like Bumrah can't do much for the team. “In 2014, when I was at RCB, I told Kohli there’s this bowler named Bumrah. Have a look at him. Virat replied saying ‘Chhor na yaar. Ye Bumrah-Vumrah kya karenge?’ (Leave it. What will such players do?),” Parthiv told Cricbuzz. Also Read: Krunal Pandya, Deepak Hooda to feature? Lucknow Super Giants' predicted playing XI for GT clash When Bumrah broke into the Gujarat Ranji side, he was mentored by Parthiv in the initial years. The former RCB wicket-keeper batter revealed Bumrah struggled to make an impression early in his career but worked hard to stand where he is today. “When he was first picked, Bumrah played Ranji Trophy for the first 2-3 years. 2013 was his first year, and he didn't have a good season in 2014. In 2015, it was so bad that there were discussions going on that he might have to be sent back home mid-season. But, he slowly began improving and Mumbai Indians really backed him. It was his own hard work and such backing that really brought out the best in him,” Parthiv added. Bumrah has so far played 107 matches for Mumbai Indians in the IPL and has 130 wickets to his name at an average of 23.37. He was retained by Mumbai Indians for a sum of Rs 12 crore (INR 120 million) ahead of the ongoing season.

'What will he do': When Virat Kohli brushed away Parthiv Patel's suggestion to try Jaspit Bumrah for RCB

Faf du Plessis had a dream start to his stint as Royal Challengers Bangalore captain as he scored an impressive 88 from 57 deliveries during the Indian Premier League (IPL) clash against Punjab Kings on Sunday. The South Africa opener slammed three fours and seven sixes during his innings.<o:p></o:p>

Faf started slow along with Anuj Rawat but keep accelerating with time as he stitched together a 108-run partnership with Virat Kohli to take his side to a total of 205 for the loss of two wickets.

<o:p>Also read |&nbsp;</o:p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2022-mumbai-indians-skipper-rohit-sharma-fined-rs-12-lakh-for-slow-over-rate-against-delhi-capitals-466077" hreflang="en">MI skipper Rohit Sharma fined Rs 12 lakh for slow over-rate vs DC</a><o:p></o:p>

Thanks to his brilliant knock, Faf scripted history by claiming the record of most runs scored by an overseas player on captaincy debut. The previous record belonged to Kieron Pollard who scored 83 when he played his first game as captain of Mumbai Indians during the 2019 season.<o:p></o:p>

Overall, he is currently in fourth position behind Sanju Samson’s 119f or Rajasthan Royals, Mayank Agarwal's 99 for Punjab Kings and 93 by Shreyas Iyer on his captaincy debut for Delhi Capitals.

<o:p>Also read |&nbsp;</o:p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2022-gujarat-lions-unveil-vice-captain-ahead-of-lucknow-super-giants-encounter-466079" hreflang="en">Gujarat Lions unveil vice-captain ahead of Lucknow Super Giants encounter</a><o:p></o:p>

During his innings, Faf also completed 3000 career runs in IPL and became the third fastest batsman to reach the milestone. He is currently joint third in the list with David Warner who also took 94 innings to score 3000 runs. Chris Gayle was the fastest (75 innings) followed by KL Rahul.<o:p></o:p>

Kohli provided able support to Faf during the innings with a 32-ball-41 and Dinesh Karthik launched a late onslaught (32 off 14 deliveries) to take RCB to a solid total in their tournament opener.<o:p></o:p>

Faf du Plessis had a dream start to his stint as Royal Challengers Bangalore captain as he scored an impressive 88 from 57 deliveries during the Indian Premier League (IPL) clash against Punjab Kings on Sunday.

Faf du Plessis had a dream start to his stint as Royal Challengers Bangalore captain as he scored an impressive 88 from 57 deliveries during the Indian Premier League (IPL) clash against Punjab Kings on Sunday. The South Africa opener slammed three fours and seven sixes during his innings. Faf started slow along with Anuj Rawat but keep accelerating with time as he stitched together a 108-run partnership with Virat Kohli to take his side to a total of 205 for the loss of two wickets. Also read | MI skipper Rohit Sharma fined Rs 12 lakh for slow over-rate vs DC Thanks to his brilliant knock, Faf scripted history by claiming the record of most runs scored by an overseas player on captaincy debut. The previous record belonged to Kieron Pollard who scored 83 when he played his first game as captain of Mumbai Indians during the 2019 season. Overall, he is currently in fourth position behind Sanju Samson’s 119f or Rajasthan Royals, Mayank Agarwal's 99 for Punjab Kings and 93 by Shreyas Iyer on his captaincy debut for Delhi Capitals. Also read | Gujarat Lions unveil vice-captain ahead of Lucknow Super Giants encounter During his innings, Faf also completed 3000 career runs in IPL and became the third fastest batsman to reach the milestone. He is currently joint third in the list with David Warner who also took 94 innings to score 3000 runs. Chris Gayle was the fastest (75 innings) followed by KL Rahul. Kohli provided able support to Faf during the innings with a 32-ball-41 and Dinesh Karthik launched a late onslaught (32 off 14 deliveries) to take RCB to a solid total in their tournament opener.

RCB skipper Faf du Plessis scripts IPL history with brilliant knock against Punjab Kings

Former Royal Challengers Bangalore skipper Virat Kohli picked highly rated Sri Lanka all-rounder Wanindu Hasaranga and 22-year-old wicketkeeper batsman Anuj Rawat as the two potential breakthrough stars for the franchise in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 season. <o:p></o:p>

"I am particularly excited about Wanindu, I think he is someone who could really come into the zone. He has the skills to have a great season, a really consistent season", he said when asked about potential breakout stars of the season on the official channel of the RCB franchise.

<o:p>Also read |&nbsp;</o:p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2022-mi-skipper-rohit-sharma-goes-past-gautam-gambhir-in-elite-list-eyes-virat-kohlis-record-466002">Rohit goes past Gambhir in elite list, eyes Kohli's record</a><o:p></o:p>

Hasaranga was released by RCB after he played for them in 2021 but they paid INR 10.75 to regain his services in the mega auction earlier this year. Last season, he just played two games for RCB.<o:p></o:p>

Kohli also praised the young Anuj Rawat who was picked up for INR 3.4 crore. The youngster represented Rajasthan Royals last season but his numbers were not that encouraging.<o:p></o:p>

However, Kohli sounded impressed with his style of play. "Anuj is another one who is a very exciting talent. (He is) a breakthrough season potential. These are the names that I look at", he said.

<o:p>Also read |&nbsp;</o:p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/delhi-capitals-tim-seifert-pulls-off-stunning-catch-to-send-kieron-pollard-packing-in-mi-clash-watch-466008" hreflang="en">Seifert pulls off stunning catch to dismiss MI's Pollard - WATCH</a><o:p></o:p>

Kohli stepped down from the RCB captaincy ahead of the IPL 2022 season and he was replaced by new recruit Faf du Plessis. RCB decided to retain the services of Kohli, Mohammed Siraj and Glenn Maxwell ahead of the auction and they were able to pick a number of big money signings.<o:p></o:p>

RCB start their IPL 2022 season against Punjab Kings on Sunday.<o:p></o:p>

Former Royal Challengers Bangalore skipper Virat Kohli picked highly rated Sri Lanka all-rounder Wanindu Hasaranga and 22-year-old wicketkeeper batsman Anuj Rawat as the two potential breakthrough stars for the franchise in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 season.

Former Royal Challengers Bangalore skipper Virat Kohli picked highly rated Sri Lanka all-rounder Wanindu Hasaranga and 22-year-old wicketkeeper batsman Anuj Rawat as the two potential breakthrough stars for the franchise in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 season. "I am particularly excited about Wanindu, I think he is someone who could really come into the zone. He has the skills to have a great season, a really consistent season", he said when asked about potential breakout stars of the season on the official channel of the RCB franchise. Also read | Rohit goes past Gambhir in elite list, eyes Kohli's record Hasaranga was released by RCB after he played for them in 2021 but they paid INR 10.75 to regain his services in the mega auction earlier this year. Last season, he just played two games for RCB. Kohli also praised the young Anuj Rawat who was picked up for INR 3.4 crore. The youngster represented Rajasthan Royals last season but his numbers were not that encouraging. However, Kohli sounded impressed with his style of play. "Anuj is another one who is a very exciting talent. (He is) a breakthrough season potential. These are the names that I look at", he said. Also read | Seifert pulls off stunning catch to dismiss MI's Pollard - WATCH Kohli stepped down from the RCB captaincy ahead of the IPL 2022 season and he was replaced by new recruit Faf du Plessis. RCB decided to retain the services of Kohli, Mohammed Siraj and Glenn Maxwell ahead of the auction and they were able to pick a number of big money signings. RCB start their IPL 2022 season against Punjab Kings on Sunday.

Virat Kohli picks two RCB youngsters who can enjoy breakthrough season in IPL 2022

Punjab Kings will be looking to start their Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 season on a high as they take on Royal Challengers Bangalore in their opening match in Mumbai on Sunday.<o:p></o:p>

The franchise went into the auction with a huge budget as they retained just two players – Mayank Agarwal, who will be leading the side this year, and young bowler Arshdeep Singh.

<o:p>Also read |&nbsp;</o:p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2022-will-virat-kohli-open-with-faf-du-plessis-rcbs-predicted-playing-xi-for-punjab-kings-clash-465897" hreflang="en">Will Kohli open with Du Plessis? RCB's predicted playing XI vs PBKS</a><o:p></o:p>

However, their performance in the auction has quickly made them a favourite ahead of the season and although Punjab Kings will be missing two big money signings in England wicket-keeper batsman Jonny Bairstow and South Africa pacer Kagiso Rabada, they currently boast of an impressive XI.<o:p></o:p>

Mayank Agarwal will be opening the batting for his side and he will be accompanied by the vastly experienced Shikhar Dhawan who will be looking to prove a point after being released by Delhi Capitals. The next two slots will go to two of the power hitters in the side – Liam Livingstone who is known for his destructive bowling and all-rounder Shahrukh Khan who costed them INR 9 crore.

<o:p>Also read |&nbsp;</o:p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/south-africa-beat-india-in-last-ball-thriller-as-mithali-raj-co-crash-out-of-womens-world-cup-2022-465912">SA beat India in last-ball thriller to dump them out of Women's WC 2022</a><o:p></o:p>

With Bairstow not in the team for the match, Prabhsimran Singh is expected to keep wickets and in the middle order, he will be joined by Harpreet Brar and West Indies all-rounder Odean Smith.<o:p></o:p>

Nathan Ellis, Sandeep Sharma and Arshdeep Singh will most probably be the pace trio for Punjab Kings on the Mumbai Pitches while Rahul Chahar may find a place as their specialist spinner.<o:p></o:p>

Punjab Kings XI: Shikhar Dhawan, Mayank Agarwal, Liam Livingstone, Shahrukh Khan, Prabhsimran Singh, Odean Smith, Harpreet Brar, Nathan Ellis, Rahul Chahar, Sandeep Sharma, Arshdeep Singh<o:p></o:p>

Punjab Kings will be looking to start their Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 season on a high as they take on Royal Challengers Bangalore in their opening match in Mumbai on Sunday.

Punjab Kings will be looking to start their Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 season on a high as they take on Royal Challengers Bangalore in their opening match in Mumbai on Sunday. The franchise went into the auction with a huge budget as they retained just two players – Mayank Agarwal, who will be leading the side this year, and young bowler Arshdeep Singh. Also read | Will Kohli open with Du Plessis? RCB's predicted playing XI vs PBKS However, their performance in the auction has quickly made them a favourite ahead of the season and although Punjab Kings will be missing two big money signings in England wicket-keeper batsman Jonny Bairstow and South Africa pacer Kagiso Rabada, they currently boast of an impressive XI. Mayank Agarwal will be opening the batting for his side and he will be accompanied by the vastly experienced Shikhar Dhawan who will be looking to prove a point after being released by Delhi Capitals. The next two slots will go to two of the power hitters in the side – Liam Livingstone who is known for his destructive bowling and all-rounder Shahrukh Khan who costed them INR 9 crore. Also read | SA beat India in last-ball thriller to dump them out of Women's WC 2022 With Bairstow not in the team for the match, Prabhsimran Singh is expected to keep wickets and in the middle order, he will be joined by Harpreet Brar and West Indies all-rounder Odean Smith. Nathan Ellis, Sandeep Sharma and Arshdeep Singh will most probably be the pace trio for Punjab Kings on the Mumbai Pitches while Rahul Chahar may find a place as their specialist spinner. Punjab Kings XI: Shikhar Dhawan, Mayank Agarwal, Liam Livingstone, Shahrukh Khan, Prabhsimran Singh, Odean Smith, Harpreet Brar, Nathan Ellis, Rahul Chahar, Sandeep Sharma, Arshdeep Singh

IPL 2022: No Rabada, Bairstow! Mayank Agarwal-led Punjab Kings predicted playing XI for RCB clash

Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) will embark on a new era under their new captain Faf du Plessis when they lock horns with Punjab Kings (PBKS) in their opening game of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 season on Sunday (March 27). RCB will take on PBKS at the DY Patil Stadium in Mumbai and will be hoping to get off to a winning start.

RCB are one of the six teams who have been part of all 15 seasons since the inception of the IPL in 2008 but are yet to win the league. RCB were a force to reckon with under former captain Kohli but failed to lift their maiden IPL title. Kohli led RCB in a total of 140 matches before stepping down as captain following the conclusion of IPL 2021 last year.

Kohli was replaced by veteran batter and former South Africa skipper Faf du Plessis as the captain of the side. RCB roped in Du Plessis for a sum of Rs 7 crore (INR 70 million) at the IPL 2022 mega auction last month after his stellar season for his former side Chennai Super Kings (CSK) last year. Du Plessis was the second-highest run-getter in IPL 2021 and played an instrumental role in CSK's memorable title-winning campaign.

RCB will be hoping for a change in fortunes under the leadership of Du Plessis, who is an experienced campaigner in the IPL and has won the trophy twice with CSK. Kohli will be playing his first game under Faf as a player against Punjab Kings on Sunday.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2022-matthew-hayden-slammed-on-twitter-after-trash-comment-on-kkr-pacer-umesh-yadav-465877">IPL 2022: Matthew Hayden slammed on Twitter after 'trash' comment on KKR pacer Umesh Yadav</a>

While many have urged Kohli to open the innings with new skipper Du Plessis, the former captain is unlikely to bat on top of the order in the absence of all-rounder Glenn Maxwell as it leaves RCB thin in the middle-order. Du Plessis might open the batting with youngster Anuj Rawat with Kohli coming out at his usual no.3 spot.

Maxwell is likely to miss the first few games of the season for RCB and in his absence, Kohli will have to shoulder the run-scoring responsibilities in the middle-order. Dinesh Karthik will also have to play a key role for the franchise as a finisher. RCB paid huge money for Sri Lankan all-rounder Wanindu Hasaranga in the auction and he is likely to feature in the playing XI.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/dwayne-bravo-equals-lasith-malingas-all-time-record-becomes-joint-highest-wicket-taker-in-ipl-history-465852">Dwayne Bravo equals Lasith Malinga's all-time record, becomes joint highest wicket-taker in IPL history</a>

Along with Hasarnaga, RCB might also play two other overseas all-rounders in the form of Sherfane Rutherford and David Willey to further strengthen their bowling attack and bat deep. Harshal Patel will continue to lead the pace attack along with the likes of Mohammed Siraj and Akash Deep.

RCB's predicted XI against Punjab Kings:

Faf du Plessis (c), Anuj Rawat, Virat Kohli, Mahipal Lomror, Sherfane Rutherford, Dinesh Karthik (wk), Wanindu Hasaranga, David Willey, Harshal Patel, Mohammed Siraj,&nbsp;Akash Deep

Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) will embark on a new era under their new captain Faf du Plessis when they lock horns with Punjab Kings (PBKS) in their opening game of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 season on Sunday (March 27).

Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) will embark on a new era under their new captain Faf du Plessis when they lock horns with Punjab Kings (PBKS) in their opening game of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 season on Sunday (March 27). RCB will take on PBKS at the DY Patil Stadium in Mumbai and will be hoping to get off to a winning start. RCB are one of the six teams who have been part of all 15 seasons since the inception of the IPL in 2008 but are yet to win the league. RCB were a force to reckon with under former captain Kohli but failed to lift their maiden IPL title. Kohli led RCB in a total of 140 matches before stepping down as captain following the conclusion of IPL 2021 last year. Kohli was replaced by veteran batter and former South Africa skipper Faf du Plessis as the captain of the side. RCB roped in Du Plessis for a sum of Rs 7 crore (INR 70 million) at the IPL 2022 mega auction last month after his stellar season for his former side Chennai Super Kings (CSK) last year. Du Plessis was the second-highest run-getter in IPL 2021 and played an instrumental role in CSK's memorable title-winning campaign. RCB will be hoping for a change in fortunes under the leadership of Du Plessis, who is an experienced campaigner in the IPL and has won the trophy twice with CSK. Kohli will be playing his first game under Faf as a player against Punjab Kings on Sunday. Also Read: IPL 2022: Matthew Hayden slammed on Twitter after 'trash' comment on KKR pacer Umesh Yadav While many have urged Kohli to open the innings with new skipper Du Plessis, the former captain is unlikely to bat on top of the order in the absence of all-rounder Glenn Maxwell as it leaves RCB thin in the middle-order. Du Plessis might open the batting with youngster Anuj Rawat with Kohli coming out at his usual no.3 spot. Maxwell is likely to miss the first few games of the season for RCB and in his absence, Kohli will have to shoulder the run-scoring responsibilities in the middle-order. Dinesh Karthik will also have to play a key role for the franchise as a finisher. RCB paid huge money for Sri Lankan all-rounder Wanindu Hasaranga in the auction and he is likely to feature in the playing XI. Also Read: Dwayne Bravo equals Lasith Malinga's all-time record, becomes joint highest wicket-taker in IPL history Along with Hasarnaga, RCB might also play two other overseas all-rounders in the form of Sherfane Rutherford and David Willey to further strengthen their bowling attack and bat deep. Harshal Patel will continue to lead the pace attack along with the likes of Mohammed Siraj and Akash Deep. RCB's predicted XI against Punjab Kings: Faf du Plessis (c), Anuj Rawat, Virat Kohli, Mahipal Lomror, Sherfane Rutherford, Dinesh Karthik (wk), Wanindu Hasaranga, David Willey, Harshal Patel, Mohammed Siraj, Akash Deep

IPL 2022: Will Virat Kohli open with Faf du Plessis? RCB's predicted playing XI for Punjab Kings clash

Virat Kohli was seen catching up with MS Dhoni during a practice session in Mumbai ahead of the start of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022. Both Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) were training at the same venue where Kohli met Dhoni and the duo shared a heartwarming hug before having a long conversation.

As the entire league stage of the IPL 2022 is being played across four venues in Maharashtra, the franchises have been sharing their training grounds with each other. Kohli, who shares an impeccable bond with former India captain Dhoni, didn't miss out on the opportunity to catch up with him as RCB shared the ground with CSK on Friday.

A video of Kohli walking up to Dhoni and sharing a hug with him during the two teams'&nbsp;training sessions went viral on social media. RCB also took to Twitter to share pictures of the duo and wrote - "Just a couple of LEGENDS catching up at practice."

Watch video:

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Virat kohli wasn't Leaving Dhoni <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WhistlePodu?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WhistlePodu</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IPL2022?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#IPL2022</a> <a href="https://t.co/4b71lqOYru">pic.twitter.com/4b71lqOYru</a>
— CSK Fans Army (@CSKFansArmy) <a href="https://twitter.com/CSKFansArmy/status/1507418596536098817?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 25, 2022</a></blockquote>
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Just a couple of LEGENDS catching up at practice. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PlayBold?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PlayBold</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WeAreChallengers?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WeAreChallengers</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IPL2022?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#IPL2022</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Mission2022?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Mission2022</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RCB?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RCB</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ViratKohli%F0%93%83%B5?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ViratKohli𓃵</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MSDhoni%F0%93%83%B5?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MSDhoni𓃵</a> <a href="https://t.co/etvnf4SW7O">pic.twitter.com/etvnf4SW7O</a>
— Royal Challengers Bangalore (@RCBTweets) <a href="https://twitter.com/RCBTweets/status/1507376585686798337?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 25, 2022</a></blockquote>
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Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-kl-rahul-to-ruturaj-gaikwad-top-five-contenders-for-orange-cap-in-ipl-2022-464619">From KL Rahul to Ruturaj Gaikwad: Top five contenders for Orange Cap in IPL 2022</a>

Kohli and Dhoni shared the Indian dressing room for over a decade and were part of several memorable victories for India on the international stage. The duo was part of India's 2011 World Cup-winning campaign and the 2013 Champions Trophy triumph. Kohli had made his India debut under Dhoni's captaincy in 2008 and went on to become a great of the game under his leadership.

It was in 2015 that Kohli took over from Dhoni as India's Test captain before taking over the white-ball captaincy in 2017. While Dhoni retired from international cricket in 2020, Kohli is still an integral member of the Indian team across formats despite having given up captaincy across all formats of the game.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2022-ravi-shastri-has-his-say-on-virat-kohlis-batting-position-for-royal-challengers-bangalore-465542">IPL 2022: Ravi Shastri has his say on Virat Kohli's batting position for Royal Challengers Bangalore</a>

IPL 2022 will be the first instance where both Dhoni and Kohli will represent their respective franchises as players having given up captaincy. Dhoni recently stepped down as the captain of four-time IPL champions CSK to hand over the reins to star all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja while Kohli had already left RCB's captaincy last year.

While Dhoni will play under Jadeja, Kohli will be playing under RCB's new captain Faf du Plessis in the upcoming season.

Virat Kohli was seen catching up with MS Dhoni during a practice session in Mumbai ahead of the start of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022. Both Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) were training at the same venue where Kohli met Dhoni and the duo shared a heartwarming hug before having a long conversation.

Virat Kohli was seen catching up with MS Dhoni during a practice session in Mumbai ahead of the start of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022. Both Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) were training at the same venue where Kohli met Dhoni and the duo shared a heartwarming hug before having a long conversation. As the entire league stage of the IPL 2022 is being played across four venues in Maharashtra, the franchises have been sharing their training grounds with each other. Kohli, who shares an impeccable bond with former India captain Dhoni, didn't miss out on the opportunity to catch up with him as RCB shared the ground with CSK on Friday. A video of Kohli walking up to Dhoni and sharing a hug with him during the two teams' training sessions went viral on social media. RCB also took to Twitter to share pictures of the duo and wrote - "Just a couple of LEGENDS catching up at practice." Watch video: Virat kohli wasn't Leaving Dhoni #WhistlePodu | #IPL2022 pic.twitter.com/4b71lqOYru — CSK Fans Army (@CSKFansArmy) March 25, 2022 × Just a couple of LEGENDS catching up at practice. #PlayBold #WeAreChallengers #IPL2022 #Mission2022 #RCB #ViratKohli𓃵 #MSDhoni𓃵 pic.twitter.com/etvnf4SW7O — Royal Challengers Bangalore (@RCBTweets) March 25, 2022 × Also Read: From KL Rahul to Ruturaj Gaikwad: Top five contenders for Orange Cap in IPL 2022 Kohli and Dhoni shared the Indian dressing room for over a decade and were part of several memorable victories for India on the international stage. The duo was part of India's 2011 World Cup-winning campaign and the 2013 Champions Trophy triumph. Kohli had made his India debut under Dhoni's captaincy in 2008 and went on to become a great of the game under his leadership. It was in 2015 that Kohli took over from Dhoni as India's Test captain before taking over the white-ball captaincy in 2017. While Dhoni retired from international cricket in 2020, Kohli is still an integral member of the Indian team across formats despite having given up captaincy across all formats of the game. Also Read: IPL 2022: Ravi Shastri has his say on Virat Kohli's batting position for Royal Challengers Bangalore IPL 2022 will be the first instance where both Dhoni and Kohli will represent their respective franchises as players having given up captaincy. Dhoni recently stepped down as the captain of four-time IPL champions CSK to hand over the reins to star all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja while Kohli had already left RCB's captaincy last year. While Dhoni will play under Jadeja, Kohli will be playing under RCB's new captain Faf du Plessis in the upcoming season.

MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli share a heartwarming hug as legends catch up ahead of IPL 2022 opener - WATCH

Former Indian cricket team skipper Sunil Gavaskar believes that Virat Kohli can repeat his heroics of 2016 in the Indian Premier League (IPL) after giving up captaincy of Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB). Kohli had a dream run of form in 2016 when he scored 973 runs in a single season. <o:p></o:p>

Speaking during a Gameplan episode on Star Sports, Gavaskar said, “At the moment, we do not know whether Kohli will be captain again. Sometimes when a player is relieved of the burden of captaincy, he flourishes as he is not thinking about 10 other players.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ms-dhoni-vs-rohit-sharma-former-australia-cricketer-picks-the-best-ever-ipl-captain-465738" hreflang="en">MS Dhoni vs Rohit Sharma: Former Australia cricketer picks the best ever IPL captain</a>

“When you are captain, you are thinking about 10 other players and sometimes also the other members of your squad, about their form or lack of form and things that they are not doing right which when they do it right, will be good for the team. This season, we might actually see the Kohli of 2016 where he got almost 1000 runs in the IPL season,” Gavaskar said on the programme. <o:p></o:p>

Glenn Maxwell will also be an integral part of RCB after he was retained ahead of this year’s mega auction. Speaking about the Australia star, Gavaskar said, “Maxwell’s cricket depends on how he approaches every inning. There are times when his approach has been unbelievably fantastic and then there are times it has not been that great.

<o:p>Also read |</o:p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/i-am-not-surprised-ab-de-villiers-reacts-to-ms-dhoni-handing-over-csk-captaincy-to-ravindra-jadeja-465741" hreflang="en">&nbsp;AB de Villiers reacts to MS Dhoni handing over CSK captaincy to Ravindra Jadeja</a>

“Last season, he was in a team with Virat Kohli and ABD, two of the finest batsmen that the game has seen and so maybe he lifted his game. He raised the level of his game to try to keep up with that.<o:p></o:p>

“If he says to himself, I am going to do what ABD has done for RCB, then RCB could be in for a real magic season from Maxwell,” he concluded.<o:p></o:p>

Former Indian cricket team skipper Sunil Gavaskar believes that Virat Kohli can repeat his heroics of 2016 in the Indian Premier League (IPL) after giving up captaincy of Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB).

Former Indian cricket team skipper Sunil Gavaskar believes that Virat Kohli can repeat his heroics of 2016 in the Indian Premier League (IPL) after giving up captaincy of Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB). Kohli had a dream run of form in 2016 when he scored 973 runs in a single season. Speaking during a Gameplan episode on Star Sports, Gavaskar said, “At the moment, we do not know whether Kohli will be captain again. Sometimes when a player is relieved of the burden of captaincy, he flourishes as he is not thinking about 10 other players. Also read | MS Dhoni vs Rohit Sharma: Former Australia cricketer picks the best ever IPL captain “When you are captain, you are thinking about 10 other players and sometimes also the other members of your squad, about their form or lack of form and things that they are not doing right which when they do it right, will be good for the team. This season, we might actually see the Kohli of 2016 where he got almost 1000 runs in the IPL season,” Gavaskar said on the programme. Glenn Maxwell will also be an integral part of RCB after he was retained ahead of this year’s mega auction. Speaking about the Australia star, Gavaskar said, “Maxwell’s cricket depends on how he approaches every inning. There are times when his approach has been unbelievably fantastic and then there are times it has not been that great. Also read | AB de Villiers reacts to MS Dhoni handing over CSK captaincy to Ravindra Jadeja “Last season, he was in a team with Virat Kohli and ABD, two of the finest batsmen that the game has seen and so maybe he lifted his game. He raised the level of his game to try to keep up with that. “If he says to himself, I am going to do what ABD has done for RCB, then RCB could be in for a real magic season from Maxwell,” he concluded.

IPL 2022: With change in RCB leadership, we might see the Virat Kohli from 2016, says Sunil Gavaskar

Virat Kohli has sent a special message to the fans of Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) ahead of the start of the new season of the Indian Premier League (IPL). For the first time since 2013, Kohli will be playing in the IPL as a pure batter and not as captain of his side. Kohli had stepped down as the captain of RCB following the conclusion of IPL 2021 last year.

He has been replaced by former South Africa skipper Faf du Plessis, who will be leading an IPL team for the first time in his career. Du Plessis was roped in by RCB for a sum of Rs 7 crore (INR 70 million) at the IPL mega auction last month and is expected to play a key role with the bat for the franchise this year.

Ahead of the start of RCB's campaign in IPL 2022, Kohli sent a special message to the fans vowing to give his all to inspire the team to their maiden trophy this season. Kohli requested the fans to throng the stadiums in large numbers to support RCB and promised to give his everything for the team.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2022-csk-vs-kkr-head-to-head-record-trivia-stats-and-squads-465662">IPL 2022: CSK vs KKR - Head to head record, trivia, stats and squads</a>

"Hello everyone in Bengaluru, [to] all the RCB fans. Firstly, it's a new season, fresh start, a different format this year, team's looking strong. We're very excited to start on a strong note. But more importantly, I am really looking forward to heaps and heaps of you coming over from Bangalore, getting hold of tickets and wearing your jerseys and with those red flags and cheering for us," Kohli said in a video shared by RCB.

"Please come to the stadium, support us and we will give you everything, every game like we have over so many years and we'll definitely try our best to go all the way and win the title," he added.

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Also Read:<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/they-know-how-to-win-games-ab-de-villiers-predicts-winner-of-ipl-2022-opener-between-csk-and-kkr-465697">&nbsp;'They know how to win games': AB de Villiers predicts winner of IPL 2022 opener between CSK and KKR</a>

The former skipper also eplained why he decided to give up captaincy and said it was iportant for him to take the decision as it was creating a hindrance for him in enjoying his game to the fullest. Kohli led RCB in a total of 140 mtches with 64 wins and 69 losses.

RCB have been placed in Group B in IPL 2022 and will be opening their campaign against Punjab Kings at the DY Patil Stadium in Mumbai&nbsp;on Sunday (March 27).

Virat Kohli has sent a special message to the fans of Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) ahead of the start of the new season of the Indian Premier League (IPL). For the first time since 2013, Kohli will be playing in the IPL as a pure batter and not as captain of his side.

Virat Kohli has sent a special message to the fans of Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) ahead of the start of the new season of the Indian Premier League (IPL). For the first time since 2013, Kohli will be playing in the IPL as a pure batter and not as captain of his side. Kohli had stepped down as the captain of RCB following the conclusion of IPL 2021 last year. He has been replaced by former South Africa skipper Faf du Plessis, who will be leading an IPL team for the first time in his career. Du Plessis was roped in by RCB for a sum of Rs 7 crore (INR 70 million) at the IPL mega auction last month and is expected to play a key role with the bat for the franchise this year. Ahead of the start of RCB's campaign in IPL 2022, Kohli sent a special message to the fans vowing to give his all to inspire the team to their maiden trophy this season. Kohli requested the fans to throng the stadiums in large numbers to support RCB and promised to give his everything for the team. Also Read: IPL 2022: CSK vs KKR - Head to head record, trivia, stats and squads "Hello everyone in Bengaluru, [to] all the RCB fans. Firstly, it's a new season, fresh start, a different format this year, team's looking strong. We're very excited to start on a strong note. But more importantly, I am really looking forward to heaps and heaps of you coming over from Bangalore, getting hold of tickets and wearing your jerseys and with those red flags and cheering for us," Kohli said in a video shared by RCB. "Please come to the stadium, support us and we will give you everything, every game like we have over so many years and we'll definitely try our best to go all the way and win the title," he added. × Also Read: 'They know how to win games': AB de Villiers predicts winner of IPL 2022 opener between CSK and KKR The former skipper also eplained why he decided to give up captaincy and said it was iportant for him to take the decision as it was creating a hindrance for him in enjoying his game to the fullest. Kohli led RCB in a total of 140 mtches with 64 wins and 69 losses. RCB have been placed in Group B in IPL 2022 and will be opening their campaign against Punjab Kings at the DY Patil Stadium in Mumbai on Sunday (March 27).

Virat Kohli sends special message to RCB fans ahead of IPL 2022: 'We will give everything to win the title'

Faf du Plessis will be leading Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 but his addition to the squad has raised debates on whether Virat Kohli will be opening the innings for the franchise.

Faf is being considered a confirmed opening batsman for RCB but questions remain over the batting position for former skipper Virat Kohli.

<o:p>Also read |&nbsp;</o:p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/the-man-the-legacy-ipl-shares-heartfelt-journey-of-ms-dhoni-as-csk-captain-post-sudden-resignation-465498" hreflang="en">IPL shares heartfelt journey of MS Dhoni as CSK captain - WATCH</a>

Former India head coach Ravi Shastri believes that Kohli should open the batting alongside Faf if RCB’s middle order is strong enough. Shastri said that it will all depend on the balance of the team.<o:p></o:p>

"That depends on the balance of the team. I wouldn't know what their middle order is, but just in case they've got a very strong middle order, then there's no harm in Virat opening," Shastri told EspnCricinfo.

<o:p>Also read |&nbsp;</o:p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/exclusive-ipl-2022-rishabh-pant-needs-to-maintain-his-aggressive-edge-for-dc-says-ricky-ponting-465468" hreflang="en">Pant needs to maintain his aggressive edge for DC, says Ponting</a>

Kohli opened the innings alongside Devdutt Padikkal last season and in 2016, it was the same position where he scored a record 973 runs in a season. However, with no AB de Villiers and a bunch of new faces in the middle order, a lot of experts believe that Kohli can decide to bat at No 3.<o:p></o:p>

RCB will begin their campaign against Punjab Kings on March 27. They will then face Kolkata Knight Riders on March 30 in their second game. Ahead of the season, Kohli decided to leave the captaincy role and RCB decided to go with the experience of Faf. The South Africa international was the second highest run-scorer for Chennai Super Kings last season as they cruised to their fourth IPL title.<o:p></o:p>

Faf du Plessis will be leading Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 but his addition to the squad has raised debates on whether Virat Kohli will be opening the innings for the franchise.

Faf du Plessis will be leading Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 but his addition to the squad has raised debates on whether Virat Kohli will be opening the innings for the franchise. Faf is being considered a confirmed opening batsman for RCB but questions remain over the batting position for former skipper Virat Kohli. Also read | IPL shares heartfelt journey of MS Dhoni as CSK captain - WATCH Former India head coach Ravi Shastri believes that Kohli should open the batting alongside Faf if RCB’s middle order is strong enough. Shastri said that it will all depend on the balance of the team. "That depends on the balance of the team. I wouldn't know what their middle order is, but just in case they've got a very strong middle order, then there's no harm in Virat opening," Shastri told EspnCricinfo. Also read | Pant needs to maintain his aggressive edge for DC, says Ponting Kohli opened the innings alongside Devdutt Padikkal last season and in 2016, it was the same position where he scored a record 973 runs in a season. However, with no AB de Villiers and a bunch of new faces in the middle order, a lot of experts believe that Kohli can decide to bat at No 3. RCB will begin their campaign against Punjab Kings on March 27. They will then face Kolkata Knight Riders on March 30 in their second game. Ahead of the season, Kohli decided to leave the captaincy role and RCB decided to go with the experience of Faf. The South Africa international was the second highest run-scorer for Chennai Super Kings last season as they cruised to their fourth IPL title.

IPL 2022: Ravi Shastri has his say on Virat Kohli's batting position for Royal Challengers Bangalore

Virat Kohli stepped down as the captain of the Royal Challengers Bangalore at the end of IPL 2021 last year and is all set to play under another captain for the franchise for the first time since 2013. Kohli, who led RCB for eight seasons from 2013 to 2021, is the only player in the league to have represented only one franchise so far in his career.

Kohli was appointed as RCB's permanent captain in 2013 and came close to inspiring the side to their first IPL title in 2016. However, RCB lost against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in the final to miss out on the trophy. Kohli has been replaced by former South Africa skipper Faf du Plessis as RCB's new captain ahead of IPL 2022.

Du Plessis was roped in by RCB for a sum of Rs 7 crore (INR 70 million) at the IPL 2022 mega auction last month and will be leading a team for the first time in his IPL career. Du Plessis played under MS Dhoni's captaincy in his former side Chennai Super Kings and has won the IPL title twice as a player.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-kl-rahul-to-ruturaj-gaikwad-top-five-contenders-for-orange-cap-in-ipl-2022-464619">From KL Rahul to Ruturaj Gaikwad: Top five contenders for Orange Cap in IPL 2022</a>

Veteran Indian spinner R Ashwin, who will be playing for Rajasthan Royals this year in the IPL, believes RCB have made a good decision by appointing Du Plessis as captain but the franchise might re-appoint Kohli next year. Ashwin believes RCB have handed over the leadership role to experienced Du Plessis only to give Kohli a break and take some responsibilities off his shoulders.

“Faf is more like towards the end of his IPL career. Maybe, he has two-three years left with him. And they have made him the captain, which is quite a good decision. He brings in a lot of experience and in fact, he has himself said that we can see a bit of MS Dhoni’s touch in his captaincy skills,” Ashwin said in a video on his Youtube channel.

“I feel that since Virat Kohli has undergone a lot of stress as a captain in the last few years, this year will be like a break for him and they might appoint him as a captain next year is my guess," he added.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/gautam-gambhir-issues-warning-to-kl-rahul-no-guarantee-that-ipl-will-help-you-become-india-captain-464781">Gautam Gambhir issues warning to KL Rahul: No guarantee that IPL will help you become India captain</a>

It remains to be seen if Kohli, who has also left Indian team's captaincy across all formats, will return as RCB captain next year. Kohli has so far led RCB in a total of 140 matches and has 64 wins to his name. RCB are yet to win their maiden IPL title and will hope for a change in fortunes this time around.

Virat Kohli stepped down as the captain of the Royal Challengers Bangalore at the end of IPL 2021 last year and is all set to play under another captain for the franchise for the first time since 2013.

Virat Kohli stepped down as the captain of the Royal Challengers Bangalore at the end of IPL 2021 last year and is all set to play under another captain for the franchise for the first time since 2013. Kohli, who led RCB for eight seasons from 2013 to 2021, is the only player in the league to have represented only one franchise so far in his career. Kohli was appointed as RCB's permanent captain in 2013 and came close to inspiring the side to their first IPL title in 2016. However, RCB lost against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in the final to miss out on the trophy. Kohli has been replaced by former South Africa skipper Faf du Plessis as RCB's new captain ahead of IPL 2022. Du Plessis was roped in by RCB for a sum of Rs 7 crore (INR 70 million) at the IPL 2022 mega auction last month and will be leading a team for the first time in his IPL career. Du Plessis played under MS Dhoni's captaincy in his former side Chennai Super Kings and has won the IPL title twice as a player. Also Read: From KL Rahul to Ruturaj Gaikwad: Top five contenders for Orange Cap in IPL 2022 Veteran Indian spinner R Ashwin, who will be playing for Rajasthan Royals this year in the IPL, believes RCB have made a good decision by appointing Du Plessis as captain but the franchise might re-appoint Kohli next year. Ashwin believes RCB have handed over the leadership role to experienced Du Plessis only to give Kohli a break and take some responsibilities off his shoulders. “Faf is more like towards the end of his IPL career. Maybe, he has two-three years left with him. And they have made him the captain, which is quite a good decision. He brings in a lot of experience and in fact, he has himself said that we can see a bit of MS Dhoni’s touch in his captaincy skills,” Ashwin said in a video on his Youtube channel. “I feel that since Virat Kohli has undergone a lot of stress as a captain in the last few years, this year will be like a break for him and they might appoint him as a captain next year is my guess," he added. Also Read: Gautam Gambhir issues warning to KL Rahul: No guarantee that IPL will help you become India captain It remains to be seen if Kohli, who has also left Indian team's captaincy across all formats, will return as RCB captain next year. Kohli has so far led RCB in a total of 140 matches and has 64 wins to his name. RCB are yet to win their maiden IPL title and will hope for a change in fortunes this time around.

Faf du Plessis as captain a good decision but RCB might replace him with Virat Kohli next year: R Ashwin

Virat Kohli will enter IPL 2022 with no additional responsibility of captaining the three-time runners-up Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) as he gave up on the top job with the franchise's end of the campaign in IPL 2021.

The 33-year-old Kohli led RCB from 2011-2021, though he became a permanent captain in IPL 2013. While the Bengaluru-based franchise did well under him in some seasons, with their best being the IPL 2016 final appearance, they remained trophy-less even during Kohli's decade-long tenure.

Ahead of the commencement of the new IPL season, from March 26, Kohli reflected on IPL's overall journey, his family's presence and support whereas he also revealed the chat he had with his successor Faf du Plessis as soon the South African was roped in by the RCB franchise in the two-day IPL 15 mega auction (where Faf was bought for INR 70 million).

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-jasprit-bumrah-to-kagiso-rabada-a-look-at-five-players-who-might-win-purple-cap-in-ipl-2022-464084">From Jasprit Bumrah to Kagiso Rabada: A look at five players who might win Purple Cap in IPL 2022</a>

"Wow 15 [IPL season]! It's quite unbelievable IPL has come this far and yeah [I am here with] renewed energy because I am off a lot of responsibilities and duties and life is in a very good place. We have a child now, we have a family and for me it's all about going on about life with a lot of joy and happiness and watching our child grow and doing what I love, which is playing cricket," the 33-year old said.

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King Kohli talks about his renewed energy, the confidence he has in Faf, and more on <a href="https://twitter.com/kreditbee?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@kreditbee</a> presents Bold Diaries.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PlayBold?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PlayBold</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WeAreChallengers?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WeAreChallengers</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IPL2022?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#IPL2022</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Mission2022?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Mission2022</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/imVkohli?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@imVkohli</a> <a href="https://t.co/QQlaAFTpuO">pic.twitter.com/QQlaAFTpuO</a>
— Royal Challengers Bangalore (@RCBTweets) <a href="https://twitter.com/RCBTweets/status/1506110921395081219?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 22, 2022</a></blockquote>
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ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-chris-gayle-virat-kohli-to-ab-de-villiers-superstar-batters-with-most-ipl-hundreds-463535">From Chris Gayle, Virat Kohli to AB de Villiers - Superstar batters with most IPL hundreds</a>

"I messaged him as soon as he was picked for RCB. Sounded him off a little bit about what's to come. It was made official afterwards but I knew obviously that getting Faf at auction, the plan was very clear that we needed a leader in the change room and he commands that respect," he further added.

Faf was recently announced as Kohli's successor at the popular franchise. He has his task cut out to motivate the troops and take them to their first-ever IPL championship in the forthcoming edition.&nbsp;

RCB will play their season-opener versus Mayank Agarwal's Punjab Kings (PBKS) on March 27 at DY Patil Stadium, Navi Mumbai.

RCB squad for IPL 2022

Virat Kohli, Glenn Maxwell, Mohammed Siraj, Harshal Patel, Faf du Plessis (c), Wanindu Hasaranga, Dinesh Karthik, Josh Hazlewood, Shahbaz Ahamad, Anuj Rawat, Akash Deep, Mahipal Lomror, Finn Allen, Sherfane Rutherford, Jason Behrendorff, Suyash Prabhudessai, Chama Milind, Aneeshwar Gautam, Karn Sharma,&nbsp;David Willey.&nbsp;

Virat Kohli will enter IPL 2022 with no additional responsibility of captaining the three-time runners-up Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) as he gave up on the top job with the franchise's end of the campaign in IPL 2021.

Virat Kohli will enter IPL 2022 with no additional responsibility of captaining the three-time runners-up Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) as he gave up on the top job with the franchise's end of the campaign in IPL 2021. The 33-year-old Kohli led RCB from 2011-2021, though he became a permanent captain in IPL 2013. While the Bengaluru-based franchise did well under him in some seasons, with their best being the IPL 2016 final appearance, they remained trophy-less even during Kohli's decade-long tenure. Ahead of the commencement of the new IPL season, from March 26, Kohli reflected on IPL's overall journey, his family's presence and support whereas he also revealed the chat he had with his successor Faf du Plessis as soon the South African was roped in by the RCB franchise in the two-day IPL 15 mega auction (where Faf was bought for INR 70 million). ALSO READ | From Jasprit Bumrah to Kagiso Rabada: A look at five players who might win Purple Cap in IPL 2022 "Wow 15 [IPL season]! It's quite unbelievable IPL has come this far and yeah [I am here with] renewed energy because I am off a lot of responsibilities and duties and life is in a very good place. We have a child now, we have a family and for me it's all about going on about life with a lot of joy and happiness and watching our child grow and doing what I love, which is playing cricket," the 33-year old said. King Kohli talks about his renewed energy, the confidence he has in Faf, and more on @kreditbee presents Bold Diaries.#PlayBold #WeAreChallengers #IPL2022 #Mission2022 @imVkohli pic.twitter.com/QQlaAFTpuO — Royal Challengers Bangalore (@RCBTweets) March 22, 2022 × ALSO READ | From Chris Gayle, Virat Kohli to AB de Villiers - Superstar batters with most IPL hundreds "I messaged him as soon as he was picked for RCB. Sounded him off a little bit about what's to come. It was made official afterwards but I knew obviously that getting Faf at auction, the plan was very clear that we needed a leader in the change room and he commands that respect," he further added. Faf was recently announced as Kohli's successor at the popular franchise. He has his task cut out to motivate the troops and take them to their first-ever IPL championship in the forthcoming edition. RCB will play their season-opener versus Mayank Agarwal's Punjab Kings (PBKS) on March 27 at DY Patil Stadium, Navi Mumbai. RCB squad for IPL 2022 Virat Kohli, Glenn Maxwell, Mohammed Siraj, Harshal Patel, Faf du Plessis (c), Wanindu Hasaranga, Dinesh Karthik, Josh Hazlewood, Shahbaz Ahamad, Anuj Rawat, Akash Deep, Mahipal Lomror, Finn Allen, Sherfane Rutherford, Jason Behrendorff, Suyash Prabhudessai, Chama Milind, Aneeshwar Gautam, Karn Sharma, David Willey.

IPL 2022: Virat Kohli reveals chat with Faf du Plessis after he got picked by RCB in mega auction

A new-look Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) will take the field in the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 this year. RCB will be led by their new captain Faf du Plessis, who has replaced Virat Kohli as the skipper of the side and the franchise will also be without one of their biggest superstars AB de Villiers, who has retired from cricket. This will be RCB's first season without Kohli as the captain of the side.

Kohli led the side for eight years since taking over the captaincy in 2013&nbsp;and had led RCB to playoffs in the last two seasons. However, the team failed to lift their maiden IPL trophy under the former skipper. With Du Plessis now in charge, RCB will be hoping for a turnaround in fortunes this year.

Du Plessis, who was roped in by RCB for a sum of Rs 7 crore (INR 70 million) at the IPL mega auction last month, is expected to open the batting for the team in the upcoming season. Du Plessis, who was with four-time IPL champions Chennai Super Kings last season, enjoyed some of his best performances as an opener for the MS Dhoni-led side.

While there have been speculations that Kohli might pair up with Du Plessis at the top to open the innings for RCB in IPL 2022, former India cricketer Wasim Jaffer has suggested another name for the opening slot. Jaffer believes Kohli will be best suited to bat at number three where he can pace his innings well. The former India batter wants RCB to play uncapped Indian youngster Anuj Rawat as an opener.

“I also feel that Faf and Virat are similar kinds of players so Virat at No. 3 and Maxy (Glenn Maxwell) at No. 4 seems a better combination. Anuj Rawat, he’s a left-hander as well, bats in the powerplay for Delhi, opens in the [Syed] Mushtaq Ali [Trophy] - we could see him opening the batting and I would like to see Virat at No. 3," said Jaffer on EspnCricinfo.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/csk-star-robin-uthappa-shuts-down-pakistani-journalist-over-tweet-comparing-ipl-with-psl-463954">CSK star Robin Uthappa shuts down Pakistani journalist over tweet comparing IPL with PSL</a>

Explaining the reason behind his suggestion to not open the batting with Kohli, Jaffer said the former RCB skipper has his own style of pacing his game and often tries to force himself a bit in the powerplay which is not his game.

“I prefer Virat Kohli batting at No. 3. I feel he can pace the game very well from there whether he comes to bat in the powerplay or after that," said Jaffer.

“He’s somebody who takes some time initially and then his strike rate progressively goes up. In the powerplay, it seems as he forces himself a bit to hit by using the crease which I don’t think is his game. He’s obviously been successful as well but I think he plays better at No. 3," he added.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/expected-him-to-be-like-that-gautam-gambhir-opens-up-on-his-on-field-spat-with-virat-kohli-in-ipl-2013-463735">'Expected him to be like that': Gautam Gambhir opens up on his on-field spat with Virat Kohli in IPL 2013</a>

RCB will open their IPL 2022 campaign against Punjab Kings on March 27 before locking horns with Kolkata Knight Riders in their next game on March 30.

A new-look Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) will take the field in the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 this year. RCB will be led by their new captain Faf du Plessis, who has replaced Virat Kohli as the skipper of the side and the franchise will also be without one of their biggest superstars AB de Villiers, who has retired from cricket.

A new-look Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) will take the field in the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 this year. RCB will be led by their new captain Faf du Plessis, who has replaced Virat Kohli as the skipper of the side and the franchise will also be without one of their biggest superstars AB de Villiers, who has retired from cricket. This will be RCB's first season without Kohli as the captain of the side. Kohli led the side for eight years since taking over the captaincy in 2013 and had led RCB to playoffs in the last two seasons. However, the team failed to lift their maiden IPL trophy under the former skipper. With Du Plessis now in charge, RCB will be hoping for a turnaround in fortunes this year. Du Plessis, who was roped in by RCB for a sum of Rs 7 crore (INR 70 million) at the IPL mega auction last month, is expected to open the batting for the team in the upcoming season. Du Plessis, who was with four-time IPL champions Chennai Super Kings last season, enjoyed some of his best performances as an opener for the MS Dhoni-led side. While there have been speculations that Kohli might pair up with Du Plessis at the top to open the innings for RCB in IPL 2022, former India cricketer Wasim Jaffer has suggested another name for the opening slot. Jaffer believes Kohli will be best suited to bat at number three where he can pace his innings well. The former India batter wants RCB to play uncapped Indian youngster Anuj Rawat as an opener. “I also feel that Faf and Virat are similar kinds of players so Virat at No. 3 and Maxy (Glenn Maxwell) at No. 4 seems a better combination. Anuj Rawat, he’s a left-hander as well, bats in the powerplay for Delhi, opens in the [Syed] Mushtaq Ali [Trophy] - we could see him opening the batting and I would like to see Virat at No. 3," said Jaffer on EspnCricinfo. Also Read: CSK star Robin Uthappa shuts down Pakistani journalist over tweet comparing IPL with PSL Explaining the reason behind his suggestion to not open the batting with Kohli, Jaffer said the former RCB skipper has his own style of pacing his game and often tries to force himself a bit in the powerplay which is not his game. “I prefer Virat Kohli batting at No. 3. I feel he can pace the game very well from there whether he comes to bat in the powerplay or after that," said Jaffer. “He’s somebody who takes some time initially and then his strike rate progressively goes up. In the powerplay, it seems as he forces himself a bit to hit by using the crease which I don’t think is his game. He’s obviously been successful as well but I think he plays better at No. 3," he added. Also Read: 'Expected him to be like that': Gautam Gambhir opens up on his on-field spat with Virat Kohli in IPL 2013 RCB will open their IPL 2022 campaign against Punjab Kings on March 27 before locking horns with Kolkata Knight Riders in their next game on March 30.

Not Virat Kohli! Wasim Jaffer names Indian youngster who should open with Faf du Plessis for RCB in IPL 2022

Australia and Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) star Glenn Maxwell tied the knot with his long-time girlfriend Vini Raman on Friday (March 18). Maxwell and Raman got hitched in a private ceremony and shared pictures from their wedding on social media.

Maxwell and Raman have been dating for several years now and had gotten engaged in February 20220. The rumours of their wedding were doing the rounds for quite some time now after&nbsp;their wedding card in Tamil had leaked earlier this year. Sharing a picture of each other from their wedding ceremony the couple wrote - "Mr and Mrs Maxwell | 18.03.22," on Instagram to mark their new beginnings.

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Wishes have been pouring in from all corners for the newly-wed couple with several current and former cricketers congratulating the two. While Maxwell is an integral member of the Australian team in white-ball cricket, Raman is a pharmacist based in Melbourne. She hails from a Tamil family, which is settled in Melbourne.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/yuzvendra-chahal-to-open-with-jos-buttler-for-rr-in-ipl-2022-england-star-reacts-to-hilarious-tweet-watch-463681">Chahal to open with&nbsp;Buttler for RR in IPL 2022? England star reacts to hilarious tweet - WATCH</a>

Glenn Maxwell to play a key role for RCB in IPL 2022

Maxwell was among the top contenders to take over from Virat Kohli as the new captain of the RCB ahead of the new season. However, the franchise have decided to hand over the reins to Faf du Plessis, who was bought for a sum of Rs 7 crore (INR 70 million) at the IPL 2022 mega auction last month.

Nonetheless, Maxwell remains an integral member of the RCB squad and is expected to play a key role for the franchise in the upcoming season. Maxwell enjoyed a brilliant campaign for RCB in IPL 2021 last year where he amassed 513 runs in 15 matches for the side at an average of over 42.

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Australia and Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) star Glenn Maxwell tied the knot with his long-time girlfriend Vini Raman on Friday (March 18). Maxwell and Raman got hitched in a private ceremony and shared pictures from their wedding on social media.

Australia and Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) star Glenn Maxwell tied the knot with his long-time girlfriend Vini Raman on Friday (March 18). Maxwell and Raman got hitched in a private ceremony and shared pictures from their wedding on social media. Maxwell and Raman have been dating for several years now and had gotten engaged in February 20220. The rumours of their wedding were doing the rounds for quite some time now after their wedding card in Tamil had leaked earlier this year. Sharing a picture of each other from their wedding ceremony the couple wrote - "Mr and Mrs Maxwell | 18.03.22," on Instagram to mark their new beginnings. View this post on Instagram A post shared by VINI (@vini.raman) × Wishes have been pouring in from all corners for the newly-wed couple with several current and former cricketers congratulating the two. While Maxwell is an integral member of the Australian team in white-ball cricket, Raman is a pharmacist based in Melbourne. She hails from a Tamil family, which is settled in Melbourne. Also Read: Chahal to open with Buttler for RR in IPL 2022? England star reacts to hilarious tweet - WATCH Glenn Maxwell to play a key role for RCB in IPL 2022 Maxwell was among the top contenders to take over from Virat Kohli as the new captain of the RCB ahead of the new season. However, the franchise have decided to hand over the reins to Faf du Plessis, who was bought for a sum of Rs 7 crore (INR 70 million) at the IPL 2022 mega auction last month. Nonetheless, Maxwell remains an integral member of the RCB squad and is expected to play a key role for the franchise in the upcoming season. Maxwell enjoyed a brilliant campaign for RCB in IPL 2021 last year where he amassed 513 runs in 15 matches for the side at an average of over 42.

RCB star Glenn Maxwell ties the knot with girlfriend Vini Raman ahead of IPL 2022

Indian all-rounder Washington Sundar has joined the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) camp ahead of the start of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022. Sundar was roped in by SRH for a sum of Rs 8.75 crore (INR 87.5 million) at the IPL 2022 mega auction last month. Sundar is expected to be one of the key players for the Kane Williamson-led side in the upcoming season.

In a video shared by SRH on their social media handles, Sundar was welcomed by his SRH and Tamil Nadu teammate T Natarajan. Natarajan also put the spin all-rounder in a spot by asking him a cheeky question. The left-arm pacer asked Sundar if he was missing his former side Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB)?

Sundar, who had joined RCB in 2018, spent four seasons with the franchise before being released last year. He was later picked by SRH in the auction. Having spent four years at RCB, the franchise probably holds a special place in Sundar's heart. However, the Indian all-rounder came up with a hilarious response when asked if SRH was better than RCB.

'It's your first time with Sunrisers Hyderabad. All these years you were with RCB. So do you miss RCB of is this better?" - Natarajan can be heard asking Sundar. "This is very good," Sundar responds before the duo breaks into laughter.

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Oh Washington. Veedu mana Greeku Veerudu. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/OrangeArmy?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#OrangeArmy</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ReadyToRise?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ReadyToRise</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TATAIPL?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TATAIPL</a> <a href="https://t.co/n0zXm3u6AC">pic.twitter.com/n0zXm3u6AC</a>
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Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/is-ipl-bullying-other-boards-aakash-chopra-reacts-as-sa-players-skip-bangladesh-tests-for-t20-league-463528">'Is IPL bullying other boards?': Aakash Chopra reacts as SA players skip Bangladesh Tests for T20 league</a>

Sundar had played for Rising Super Giants where he rose to prominence before being roped in by RCB in 2018. He has so far played 42 matches in his IPL career with 217 runs and 27 wickets to his name. The right-arm all-rounder has become a regular for India across formats and will be hoping to shine for his new IPL franchise Sunrisers Hyderabad in the upcoming season.

Apart from Sundar, SRH also roped in some other quality all-rounders at the IPL 2022 mega auction in the form of&nbsp;Aiden Markram, Romario Shepherd and Abhishek Sharma among others. SRH will open their IPL 2022 campaign against Rajasthan Royals on March 29.

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Indian all-rounder Washington Sundar has joined the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) camp ahead of the start of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022. Sundar was roped in by SRH for a sum of Rs 8.

Indian all-rounder Washington Sundar has joined the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) camp ahead of the start of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022. Sundar was roped in by SRH for a sum of Rs 8.75 crore (INR 87.5 million) at the IPL 2022 mega auction last month. Sundar is expected to be one of the key players for the Kane Williamson-led side in the upcoming season. In a video shared by SRH on their social media handles, Sundar was welcomed by his SRH and Tamil Nadu teammate T Natarajan. Natarajan also put the spin all-rounder in a spot by asking him a cheeky question. The left-arm pacer asked Sundar if he was missing his former side Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB)? Sundar, who had joined RCB in 2018, spent four seasons with the franchise before being released last year. He was later picked by SRH in the auction. Having spent four years at RCB, the franchise probably holds a special place in Sundar's heart. However, the Indian all-rounder came up with a hilarious response when asked if SRH was better than RCB. 'It's your first time with Sunrisers Hyderabad. All these years you were with RCB. So do you miss RCB of is this better?" - Natarajan can be heard asking Sundar. "This is very good," Sundar responds before the duo breaks into laughter. Watch video: Oh Washington. Veedu mana Greeku Veerudu. #OrangeArmy #ReadyToRise #TATAIPL pic.twitter.com/n0zXm3u6AC — SunRisers Hyderabad (@SunRisers) March 18, 2022 × Also Read: 'Is IPL bullying other boards?': Aakash Chopra reacts as SA players skip Bangladesh Tests for T20 league Sundar had played for Rising Super Giants where he rose to prominence before being roped in by RCB in 2018. He has so far played 42 matches in his IPL career with 217 runs and 27 wickets to his name. The right-arm all-rounder has become a regular for India across formats and will be hoping to shine for his new IPL franchise Sunrisers Hyderabad in the upcoming season. Apart from Sundar, SRH also roped in some other quality all-rounders at the IPL 2022 mega auction in the form of Aiden Markram, Romario Shepherd and Abhishek Sharma among others. SRH will open their IPL 2022 campaign against Rajasthan Royals on March 29.

Do you miss RCB? Washington Sundar responds to T Natarajan's cheeky question after joining SRH - WATCH

The ardent fans of Virat Kohli have been patiently waiting for the superstar cricketer's 71st international ton. Kohli's last three-figure knock at the international level came in late 2019. Since then, he gave up Test and T20I captaincy whereas he was sacked as the ODI skipper for Rohit Sharma to take charge of Team India as full-time captain.

In the IPL, Kohli's last century came during the 2019 edition. While he has been among runs in the last two seasons, his strike-rate has gone down. In IPL 2021, the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) batter amassed 405 runs in 15 innings at a strike rate of 119.46. In the previous season, he struck at 121.35. After giving up on RCB captaincy with the end of the last year's edition, his Bengaluru teammate and Australia all-rounder Glenn Maxwell feels Kohli will be at his usual best in the forthcoming IPL 2022 edition with no additional pressure on him.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-virat-kohli-ms-dhoni-to-hardik-pandya-top-5-cricketing-superstars-with-most-instagram-followers-460635">From Virat Kohli, MS Dhoni to Hardik Pandya: Top 5 cricketing superstars with most Instagram followers</a>

Speaking on the RCB Podcast, Maxwell said, "He knows he's handing the captaincy over, which I think is potentially a big burden for him. It might have been something that's been weighing him down for a while and now that he's been able to release it, it might be dangerous news for opposition teams."

"It is amazing for him to be relaxed a bit and actually enjoy the next few years of his career without any of that sort of external pressure. I think playing against him in earlier days, he was a fiery competitor, getting in your face. He's always trying to impose himself on the game. Impose himself on the opposition," he further opined.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2022-to-be-a-trail-run-for-star-team-india-bowler-for-t20-world-cup-consideration-report-463388">IPL 2022 to be a trial run for star Team India bowler for T20 World Cup consideration: Report</a>

"Something I've noticed more from him this year is he's been really measured with his emotions. He's actually been really measured with his decision-making. He's certainly really surprised me and probably how close we've both gotten to each other as well this year. Being able to talk about the game in a calm manner," Maxwell added.

Faf du Plessis-led RCB will open their campaign in the upcoming IPL 2022 edition against Mayank Agarwal's Punjab Kings (PBKS) on March 27 in match 3, at&nbsp;Dr DY Patil Sports Academy, Mumbai. Will Kohli go bonkers with the bat this season? Only time will tell..

The ardent fans of Virat Kohli have been patiently waiting for the superstar cricketer's 71st international ton. Kohli's last three-figure knock at the international level came in late 2019.

The ardent fans of Virat Kohli have been patiently waiting for the superstar cricketer's 71st international ton. Kohli's last three-figure knock at the international level came in late 2019. Since then, he gave up Test and T20I captaincy whereas he was sacked as the ODI skipper for Rohit Sharma to take charge of Team India as full-time captain. In the IPL, Kohli's last century came during the 2019 edition. While he has been among runs in the last two seasons, his strike-rate has gone down. In IPL 2021, the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) batter amassed 405 runs in 15 innings at a strike rate of 119.46. In the previous season, he struck at 121.35. After giving up on RCB captaincy with the end of the last year's edition, his Bengaluru teammate and Australia all-rounder Glenn Maxwell feels Kohli will be at his usual best in the forthcoming IPL 2022 edition with no additional pressure on him. ALSO READ | From Virat Kohli, MS Dhoni to Hardik Pandya: Top 5 cricketing superstars with most Instagram followers Speaking on the RCB Podcast, Maxwell said, "He knows he's handing the captaincy over, which I think is potentially a big burden for him. It might have been something that's been weighing him down for a while and now that he's been able to release it, it might be dangerous news for opposition teams." "It is amazing for him to be relaxed a bit and actually enjoy the next few years of his career without any of that sort of external pressure. I think playing against him in earlier days, he was a fiery competitor, getting in your face. He's always trying to impose himself on the game. Impose himself on the opposition," he further opined. ALSO READ | IPL 2022 to be a trial run for star Team India bowler for T20 World Cup consideration: Report "Something I've noticed more from him this year is he's been really measured with his emotions. He's actually been really measured with his decision-making. He's certainly really surprised me and probably how close we've both gotten to each other as well this year. Being able to talk about the game in a calm manner," Maxwell added. Faf du Plessis-led RCB will open their campaign in the upcoming IPL 2022 edition against Mayank Agarwal's Punjab Kings (PBKS) on March 27 in match 3, at Dr DY Patil Sports Academy, Mumbai. Will Kohli go bonkers with the bat this season? Only time will tell..

'Might be dangerous news for oppositions': RCB star Maxwell explains why Kohli can be lethal in IPL 2022

Faf Du Plessis recalled his initial days at his former side Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) after he was on Saturday appointed as the new captain of the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB). Du Plessis, who has never led an IPL team in the past, will be replacing Virat Kohli as RCB's new captain in IPL 2022.

Du Plessis might not have led an IPL team but is one of the most experienced cricketers in the league and has won the title twice as a player with CSK. He has also led South Africa in the past and has significant experience as a leader in international cricket. Du Plessis spent nine seasons with CSK where he played&nbsp;under the legendary MS Dhoni.

Du Plessis admitted he has a quite similar captaincy style to Dhoni, who is known for his ability to stay calm under pressure. However, the former CSK batter said when he first arrived at the franchise he found Dhoni's style of leading the side complete opposite of what he had thought captaincy would look like.

“The crazy thing is, when I started over in Chennai, I had this idea of what captaincy looks like. And MS was the complete opposite of what I thought it would have looked like! Because my culture was South African, right? So I came to this environment and I was like, ‘this guy was completely different than I thought what it should be!’” Faf said in an interview for RCB.

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Also Read:<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/mike-hesson-explains-why-rcb-picked-faf-du-plessis-over-maxwell-and-karthik-to-lead-the-side-in-ipl-2022-461839">&nbsp;Hesson explains why RCB picked Du Plessis over Maxwell and Karthik to lead the side in IPL 2022</a>

Du Plessis, who played an instrumental role in CSK's fourth IPL title triumph last year with a staggering 633 runs in the season, said he has been privileged to have played under Dhoni and learnt from one of the best captains around. The former South Africa skipper said he would like to utilise his experience and learnings but not try to be like Dhoni or Kohli.

“What it taught me was that there were different styles, but it is important that you need to be (have) your own style. Because that’s the thing that always comes through when the pressure is on,” said the RCB captain.

“So, I can’t try to be Virat Kohli because I’m not Virat Kohli. I can’t try to be MS Dhoni. But there are things I’ve learned that helped me grow my leadership style and mature. So, I’m grateful for that journey,” he added.

Faf Du Plessis recalled his initial days at his former side Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) after he was on Saturday appointed as the new captain of the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB).

Faf Du Plessis recalled his initial days at his former side Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) after he was on Saturday appointed as the new captain of the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB). Du Plessis, who has never led an IPL team in the past, will be replacing Virat Kohli as RCB's new captain in IPL 2022. Du Plessis might not have led an IPL team but is one of the most experienced cricketers in the league and has won the title twice as a player with CSK. He has also led South Africa in the past and has significant experience as a leader in international cricket. Du Plessis spent nine seasons with CSK where he played under the legendary MS Dhoni. Du Plessis admitted he has a quite similar captaincy style to Dhoni, who is known for his ability to stay calm under pressure. However, the former CSK batter said when he first arrived at the franchise he found Dhoni's style of leading the side complete opposite of what he had thought captaincy would look like. “The crazy thing is, when I started over in Chennai, I had this idea of what captaincy looks like. And MS was the complete opposite of what I thought it would have looked like! Because my culture was South African, right? So I came to this environment and I was like, ‘this guy was completely different than I thought what it should be!’” Faf said in an interview for RCB. × Also Read: Hesson explains why RCB picked Du Plessis over Maxwell and Karthik to lead the side in IPL 2022 Du Plessis, who played an instrumental role in CSK's fourth IPL title triumph last year with a staggering 633 runs in the season, said he has been privileged to have played under Dhoni and learnt from one of the best captains around. The former South Africa skipper said he would like to utilise his experience and learnings but not try to be like Dhoni or Kohli. “What it taught me was that there were different styles, but it is important that you need to be (have) your own style. Because that’s the thing that always comes through when the pressure is on,” said the RCB captain. “So, I can’t try to be Virat Kohli because I’m not Virat Kohli. I can’t try to be MS Dhoni. But there are things I’ve learned that helped me grow my leadership style and mature. So, I’m grateful for that journey,” he added.

MS Dhoni was completely opposite of what I thought captaincy would have looked like: Faf du Plessis

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