November 2, 2024: Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) has made a significant move by retaining Virat Kohli ahead of the IPL 2025 season, and head coach Andy Flower is optimistic about Kohli’s impact on the franchise’s future success. Kohli, who played a pivotal role in RCB’s journey last season, is seen as a crucial figure for the team moving forward.
In an interview with Jio Cinema, Flower praised Kohli’s sensational performance in IPL 2024, where he scored 741 runs across 15 matches, boasting an impressive strike rate of 154.70. His contributions included a century and five half-centuries, highlighting his consistency and ability to perform under pressure. Kohli’s leadership qualities also came to the forefront as he guided RCB into the playoffs despite a challenging start to the season.
With the upcoming IPL mega auction, Kohli’s retention aligns with RCB’s strategy to build a strong squad around experienced players. There are also rumors suggesting that Kohli may return as captain after stepping down from the role in 2021. His previous stint as skipper saw ups and downs, but his leadership was instrumental in leading the team to the finals in 2016.
As the highest run-scorer in IPL history, Kohli’s legacy in the league is well-established, with over 8,000 runs in 252 matches. RCB finished fourth in IPL 2024, narrowly making the playoffs, but ultimately fell short against Rajasthan Royals. With Kohli at the helm, fans are hopeful for a more successful campaign in the upcoming season.
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