Virat Kohli ends silence on RCB’s heartbreaking exit, pens heartfelt message to fans

Royal Challengers Bengaluru batting stalwart Virat Kohli has expressed his gratitude to the fans for their unwavering support throughout the IPL 2024 campaign following the team’s heartbreaking exit following a defeat against Rajasthan Royals in the Eliminator Wednesday.

Kohli extended his heartfelt thanks to the fans, acknowledging their love and encouragement towards the players and the franchise. RCB’s run in the tournament has been nothing short of remarkable, with the team completing an impressive turnaround after a difficult start, eventually securing a playoff spot with six straight wins in the second half of the tournament. championship.

On his official Instagram account, Kohli wrote, “Thank you once again to all RCB fans for making us feel loved and appreciated as always. »

RCB suffered seven defeats in their first eight matches but staged an incredible comeback to record wins in all their remaining league matches and clinch a playoff spot. Their qualification for the knockout stage was highlighted by a crucial clash against defending champions Chennai Super Kings, where RCB showed their fighting spirit, restricting CSK to 191/7 in the 220-run chase.

However, their Eliminator match with Rajasthan Royals proved to be a formidable challenge, resulting in a four-wicket defeat in Ahmedabad.

Kohli has been RCB’s most consistent performer throughout the season; he holds a considerable lead at the top of the list among the best runners this year, with 741 runs to his name in 15 matches. The second best among the teams still in the competition is Rajasthan Royals’ Riyan Parag, who has 567 runs from 15 matches.

“Played for our self-respect”

After their elimination, Virat Kohli addressed the dressing room, stating that the team never lost confidence despite a horrible start.

“We started expressing ourselves, playing for our self-respect, and then the confidence came back. The way we turned things around and qualified was truly special, something I will always cherish and remember always, because it took a lot of character from each member of this team, something that we can be really proud of and in the end, we played the way we wanted to,” Kohli said.