The Kolkata Knight Riders knocked the Royal Challengers Bangalore out of IPL 2021 after defeating them in Eliminator 1 by four wickets and a few balls to spare. With this defeat, RCB’s hopes to win the trophy under the leadership of Virat Kohli also came to an end. An era has come to an end, as Virat Kohli announced his decision to give up the captaincy duties by the end of this league.
Virat Kohli played his last match as the ‘captain’ of Royal Challengers Bangalore. The cricket fraternity was left heartbroken after Virat failed to end his RCB’s captaincy career on a high note as his team was eliminated from the IPL 2021.
Speaking after the KKR vs RCB game, Virat Kohli talked about the performance of his team. He said:
“I think those middle overs where their spinners dominated the game was the difference. They kept bowling in tight areas and kept picking wickets. We had a great start and it was about quality bowling and not bad batting. They thoroughly deserve to win this one and be in the next round. The fight till the end with the ball has been the hallmark of our team. That one big over (22 runs) in the middle deflated our chances. We fought till the last over and made an amazing game out of it. 15 runs less with the bat and a couple of big overs with the ball cost us. Sunil Narine has always been a quality bowler and today he once again showed it. Shakib, Varun and him created pressure and didn’t allow our batsmen to get away in the middle.”
Further, he went on to add that it was in the 12th over of KKR’s innings, that the game turned around in KKR’s favor. He said:
“[On him leaving captaincy at RCB] I have tried my best to create a culture here where youngsters could come in and play with freedom and belief. It is something I have done with India as well. I have given my best. I don’t know how the response has been, but I have given 120% to this franchise every time, which is something I will now do as a player. It is a great time to regroup and restructure for the next three years with people who will take this ahead. [On him staying with RCB] Yes definitely, I don’t see myself playing anywhere else. Loyalty matters more to me than worldly pleasures. I would be in the RCB till the last day I play in the IPL.”
With this loss, Virat Kohli’s captaincy stint in the IPL without winning a trophy came to an end. He will be playing as a pure batsman from the next season. Though, Virat has confirmed that he is put to stay with the franchise until the end of this cricketing career and expressed how he has given his best to the franchise.
Kohli reiterated that he would want to stay at Royal Challengers Bangalore as a player till the time he retires from the IPL. He said:
“I have tried to create a culture where youngsters can come in and play expressive cricket. I have given my best and I don’t know how the response is to that. I have given 120% to the team and I will continue to do so for the team. It is time to regroup, restructure and bring in players who can take this franchise to the next level. I don’t see myself playing anywhere else. For me, loyalty matters a lot more than some other things and I will represent this franchise till the last day of the IPL”
