Royal Challengers Bangalore skipper Virat Kohli said that a great first half of the Indian Premier League is driving his team forward and motivating factor ahead of the second half of the Indian Premier League.
“It is an important factor. But I don’t think that is going to take anything away from what we have set out to achieve and what we have already set in motion the last time we started IPL 2021. We have had a great start to the campaign and that is certainly our driving and motivating factor knowing that we can play a certain brand of cricket which we have shown in the first leg,” said Kohli during a virtual unveiling of the team’s blue jersey.
“With really strong and consistent performances, every player chipping in somewhere or the other, the strength of the team is coming together nicely. At crunch moments, we were standing up and making impact performances when needed for the team. All those factors are huge,” added Kohli.
Kohli expressed his happiness after joining the team in the practice session on Friday after spending six days in quarantine.
“After quarantine when I stepped out yesterday to practice for the first time, I did not feel that we went away at all. It felt this is just an extension of where we left. The spirit and camaraderie was absolutely the same and excitement could be felt in the air. With players understanding what they work hard for, as mentioned before in the start of IPL 2021 first leg and seeing results of it, it gives you more motivation to go out there and play similar kind of cricket and excel when the team wants you to.
“So, I was very very excited and happy to see such a nice and relaxed environment with a lot of competition and very high density practice that we had. Everyone was giving everything they had. So, I was very pleased to see that and very happy to be finally out of quarantine and get into grove of IPL all over again,” concluded Kohli.
The season will resume on September 19 with the blockbuster clash of Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings. RCB will play their first match of UAE-leg on September 20 against Kolkata Knight Riders.
