Virat Kohli (Photo source – RCB/X)
The Indian Premier League 2024 is just around the corner, and fans are eagerly waiting for the opening clash between defending champions Chennai Super Kings and title-seekers Royal Challengers Bangalore on Friday, March 22. Meanwhile, Bangalore’s poster boy Virat Kohli has marked his arrival in home city Bengaluru to unite with the squad ahead of the all-important tournament.
Kohli landed in India on Saturday night after the birth of his son, Akaay, in London. On February 21, the former India cricketer shared the news of the birth of his second child, via a social media post, announcing that his wife Anushka Sharma gave birth to a baby boy on February 15. Notably, the 35-year-old did not take part in the red-ball series against England to prioritize personal duties.
Prior to their opening game, RCB will host an Unbox event on March 19 at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. The event, eagerly awaited by fans, will feature Kohli along with other prominent figures in cricket. In addition, RCB’s women’s team, fresh off their historic triumph in the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2024, is expected to attend the event to add to the excitement of the event in Bengaluru.
RCB took to its official ‘X’ handle (formerly Twitter) and released a video to mark the arrival of Virat Kohli.
Also Read: Virat Kohli lands in India ahead of Indian Premier League 2024 – Watch
See RCB’s X post:
Too much happening too quickly and we’re not slowing down.
Is he here? 👑#PlayBold #ನಮ್ಮRCB #IPL2024 #Homecoming pic.twitter.com/8ZJfp7QfQw
— Royal Challengers Bangalore (@RCBTweets) March 18, 2024
A peek into Virat Kohli’s stunning stats in IPL
Virat Kohli boasts stunning statistics in the Indian Premier League, as the leading run-scorer, having amassed 7263 runs in 237 matches at an impressive average of 37.24 and a formidable strike rate of 130.02. Throughout his IPL career, the 35-year-old has notched up seven tons and 50 half-centuries, demonstrating his consistency and dominance in the tournament.
Also Read: WPL 2024: Virat Kohli dances with RCB team through video call after maiden title win
The New Delhi-born cricketer’s batting prowess reached its pinnacle during the 2016 IPL season, where he was awarded the coveted Orange Cap. He amassed a staggering 973 runs in just 16 matches in that season, boasting an average of 81.08 and an exceptional strike rate of 152.03. He enjoyed a remarkable season in the previous season as well, scoring 639 runs in 14 games, including two centuries and six fifties at an average of 53.25 and a strike rate of 139.82.