DC vs RCB IPL 2023: Virat Kohli brings the ‘Delhite’ to Delhi as the Capitals brace up for Royal Challengers Bangalore | Cricket News – Times of India
NEW DELHI: There was unusual tension in the air at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Friday evening. The stadium is literally being decked up for the homecoming of Virat Kohli when Delhi Capitals take on Royal Challengers Bangalore here on Saturday evening. The tickets have flown off the counter 10 days before the game.
The Kohli fever is unmistakable. It may be Delhi Capitals’ home ground but it is Kohli’s turf. This may be the lull before the proverbial storm.
The overwhelming anticipation has a context.
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![Days after on-field spat with Gautam Gambhir, Virat Kohli visits temple with Anushka Sharma to seek blessings - VIRAL VIDEO]( "Days after on-field spat with Gautam Gambhir, Virat Kohli visits temple with Anushka Sharma to seek blessings - VIRAL VIDEO")
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The Kohli fever is unmistakable. It may be Delhi Capitals’ home ground but it is Kohli’s turf. This may be the lull before the proverbial storm.
The overwhelming anticipation has a context.
Kohli is coming on the back of an emotionally-charged game in Lucknow earlier in the week where he got into an ugly altercation with Lucknow Super Giants mentor Gautam Gambhir. The debates since the incident have largely revolved around how players must curb their aggression. One can be rest assured nobody at the stadium on Saturday will mind a fired up Kohli on Saturday.
Kohli typifies the innate fire in a Delhite. That’s something the crowd has yearned from its home team for the entire season. With RCB jostling for a spot in the top four of the points table, they may finally get to see some of it coming from Kohli.
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Days after on-field spat with Gautam Gambhir, Virat Kohli visits temple with Anushka Sharma to seek blessings – VIRAL VIDEO
Kohli didn’t show up at the Kotla on Friday. He had a decent hit on Thursday evening, tried out a few new bats and was back to exploring his hunting grounds in Delhi. Yet, almost every discussion revolved around Kohli’s presence. Capitals fast bowling coach James Hopes conceded that they expect a strong crowd backing RCB and Kohli. That’s the norm at most venues anyway.
The controversy in Lucknow has hogged much of the airtime this week. Kohli, in no way, is expected to hold back. Anuj Rawat, a prodigy from the same academy in West Delhi where he sharpened his cricketing skills, was tasked with addressing the media on behalf of RCB on the eve of the match. “Was there any controversy?” he tried to play smart in an attempt to downplay the Lucknow incident.
“Virat bhaiya is aggressive irrespective of who is playing against. He will celebrate a wicket the same way,” Rawat said. “Everyone has his own way of staying motivated in the field. His way is very aggressive. I like to stay calm on the field,” was all the 23-year-old could say.
As much as he is a thorough Delhite, Kohli is the soul of RCB. RCB’s entire brand has been built around him on either of his captaincy tenure. Faf du Plessis may be heading out for the toss and taking on-field calls, Kohli is the engine that’s forever driving RCB towards the elusive maiden IPL title. “Virat bhaiya will always be my captain. But Faf is doing a good job too,” Rawat said with a smirk.
RCB may have some problems with their domestic Indian batters in the middle but Capitals have greater issues in comparison.
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With a team that is languishing at the bottom of the table and a crowd expected to vociferously back Kohli, it could be a good hunt for Indian cricket’s poster boy to strengthen RCB’s prospects in the tournament.
Watch IPL 2023: Kotla awaits run-machine Virat Kohli’s homecoming
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