Virat Kohli led Royal Challengers Bangalore have finally kick-started their IPL 2020 journey with the ongoing match against Sunrisers Hyderabad in Dubai. A lot is expected from the men in red as RCB will try to give their best to win the IPL trophy for the first time.
Ahead of the match, the RCB squad was spotted wearing jerseys in training sessions which had the message ‘My COVID Heroes’ written on the backside of it. The franchise later revealed that they will be sporting the same jersey throughout the league during training sessions in order to celebrate the heroes who worked throughout the Coronavirus pandemic.
RCB via their official twitter handle informed about the same. They wrote:
“The Royal Challengers wore the MY COVID HEROES jersey during practice yesterday, to pay tribute to all the REAL CHALLENGERS who have strived to make the world a better place during the pandemic! ????”
Here, check out the Tweet:
The Royal Challengers wore the MY COVID HEROES jersey during practice yesterday, to pay tribute to all the REAL CHALLENGERS who have strived to make the world a better place during the pandemic! ????
(1/2)#PlayBold #IPL2020 #WeAreChallengers #MyCovidHeroes #Dream11IPL pic.twitter.com/TLW7IiNSmq
— Royal Challengers Bangalore (@RCBTweets) September 20, 2020
Later, in an interview, AB de Villiers the star performer of RCB was asked about the same. Responding to which, AB said that it is a great initiative to honor the frontline workers. He said:
“It’s a special occasion. Very excited to get out there and have fun with the boys. Great initiative from RCB (to don a special jersey in appreciation of the Covid frontline workers) and throughout the pandemic, a lot of frontline workers have done great service and that’s really the purpose of life,”
Infact, in the ongoing match, AB de Villiers and Virat Kohli were seen wearing jerseys with the names Paritosh and Simranjeet on their back to thank them for their efforts during the lockdown.
Both the cricketers have also changed their Twitter handles to the names of these two COVID warriors paying tribute to them.
Massive respect for Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers who will have names of #CovidHeroes on their jerseys for the IPL season. Sport spreading the message of humanity and generosity is the need of the hour and who better than these two ambassadors of our game to do that. pic.twitter.com/HhnUzG3OCh
— Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif) September 21, 2020
AB de Villiers took to his twitter and praised the efforts of Paritosh during the pandemic. He wrote: “I salute Paritosh,who started ‘Project Feeding from Far’ with Pooja & fed meals to 2 needy during the lockdown. I wear his name on my back this season 2 appreciate their challenger spirit,”
Here, check out the Tweet:
I salute Paritosh,who started ‘Project Feeding from Far’ with Pooja & fed meals 2 needy during the lockdown. I wear his name on my back this season 2 appreciate their challenger spirit
Share your #MyCovidHeroes story with us#WeAreChallengers #RealChallengers#ChallengeAccepted
— AB de Villiers (@ABdeVilliers17) September 20, 2020
Talking about the other Warrior, Simranjeet Singh, who is hearing-impaired raised donations for poor people suffering during the pandemic. In a statement, RCB revealed:
Simranjeet Singh, a hearing-impaired but that did not stop him from helping others in the pandemic. He approached people to raise donations for the poor suffering in the pandemic and many hearing-impaired individuals agreed.
“These individuals weren’t from any particular organisation and they selflessly donated funds. Simranjeet Singh along with his friends raised Rs 98,000 to help people,”
Meanwhile, RCB were asked to bat first after SRH skipper David Warner won the toss and chose to field first.
