New Delhi: Virat Kohli will be back as captain in T-20 cricket wearing the blue Jersey again despite resigning from the skipper's role. This time he will wear the blue Jersey for Royal Challengers Bangalore. Royal Challengers Bangalore to play wearing blue Jersey on 20th September against KKR to show respect to those front line workers who relentlessly worked wearing the blue PPE kits since almost last couple of years.
On the occasion of the unveiling of the blue Jersey Virat said, "I am feeling very excited to be back again. We want to pay homage, respect to the covid warriors who served relentlessly during the covid period since almost last couple years. It's a different kind of blue colour that I will wear against KKR on 20th . It's going to be a milestone day for all of us."
RCB chairman Prathmesh Mishra said that the blue jerseys are going to be signed by the cricketers and auctioned and the proceeds will go for the vaccinations of the underprivileged in the country . The first set of auctions will happen after the first match and will be conducted on the RCB website.
Virat said, "It's an important factor that a lot of cricketers haven't practiced together but that won't change our goal that we had set in the first half of the tournament in 2021 . When I came for the practice for the first time here , I felt like it is just an extension of where we left as the focus of the cricketers remained the same . We had a very high intensity practice session and I am happy with it ."
"We have made changes from the first phase of the tournament that we played in 2021 for certain reasons which everyone's aware of . Adam Zampa and Kane Richardson are not playing and Chamira and Hasaranga are playing . They know the conditions in Dubai and how the the pitch will play here in UAE. Though there are changes but it feels like they have adapted with the conditions very well so far. The core group of players are as motivated as I mentioned and we are raring to go . We feel even stronger."
Covid had affected the tournament earlier and IPL will start again after a gap of a few months. There are differences in opinion and a set of people feel this break may affect the momentum and the opinion is that the team can start afresh which is good.
Virat Kohli said, " People will analyse lot of things . Having played this game for so long at this level, I know even after winning 7 matches in a row you have to play with same passion, professionalism in the 8th and also when you don't win one in 5 it's the same . You cannot take things for granted . We never had focussed on something like how many matches to go and how many we must win in order to qualify. The focus is that we enjoy the process , work hard . We didn't look beyond the day we played or practiced . From outside there are many data points and analysis but game is not played on that . The game is all about reaction , belief in certain moments, game plans and make sure you execute those plans ."