The RCB’s run machine, Virat Kohli, spoke candidly about his two-month sabbatical, during which his wife, Anushka Sharma, gave birth to their second child, Akaay, after he scored a match-winning 77 against the Punjab Kings. Notably, Kohli took a break with his family and missed India’s home five-match Test series against England
In front of an enraged crowd at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, the highlight of Match 6 of the IPL 2024 was a historic victory by the Royal Challengers Bengaluru over the Punjab Kings. The four-wicket victory with as many deliveries remaining represented both the home teams’ dominance in the seventeenth edition of the IPL, with every home team winning their respective matches thus far, and—more importantly—a victory for RCB to begin their quest for their first championship.
Evidently, Virat Kohli relished the fact that he was not the centre of attention while he was in England. He claimed that spending time with his family and experiencing life as if they were just another set of people in the background was almost surreal.
Also read: IPL 2024: RCB vs PBKS Match 6 Highlights
“We were outside the nation. We were in an area where people did not know who we were. For me and the rest of the family, spending time together and trying to feel normal for two months was a bizarre experience, Kohli remarked during the post-match presentation ceremony.
The star batter who won the Orange Cap also shared insights into how a parent’s perspective changes after having a second child and their relationship with the elder one. For the opportunity to spend some valuable time with his family, the 35-year-old thanked God.
Naturally, from the standpoint of a family with two children, things change drastically. It’s remarkable how much you can connect with your older child and just be able to spend time together. I’m incredibly appreciative to God for the chance to spend time with my family,” Kohli continued.
Play to the best of your ability when you play, says Virat Kohli, citing Rahul Dravid
Having been a member of the RCB team since the league’s founding, Kohli also spoke about the love he gets from Bengaluru fans in particular. The star batsman put due emphasis on the aspects that people tend to highlight when connecting a player with their career: the accomplishments, the stats, and the numbers. He had achieved his highest score in the first 15 balls of his T20 career during his flawless knock against PBKS. He had also mentioned a number of fifties in T20 cricket in the same innings.
Ultimately, the 35-year-old stated that it’s more important to make memories than it is to excel statistically on the field. He also mentioned Rahul Dravid, the Team India head coach, in regards to his opinions on playing the game with teammates for the viewers.
People talk about a lot of other things while they play sports, such as accomplishments, statistics, and numbers. It’s been going on for years. However, when you reflect on the past, the figures and statistics won’t be the first things that come to mind. Before quoting Rahul Dravid, the head coach of the Indian squad, Kohli stated, “It’s the memories that you create.”
“Now, Rahul Bhai, our brother, famously tells us the exact same thing in the changing room. Playing is about giving it your all because you won’t get to spend these moments playing in front of fans in the changing room with your pals.
After winning the Player of the Match award for his brilliant 49-ball, 77-run innings, Kohli tied the record set by former Chennai Super Kings (CSK) captain MS Dhoni with 17 trophies won in the league’s history. Meanwhile, RCB opened the season with a victory in their opening home game. On Friday, March 29, they will play the Kolkata Knight Riders.
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