When the Royal Challengers Bengaluru team takes on the reigning champion Chennai Super Kings in the opening IPL 2024 match, they plan to start the season strong. The women’s team, captained by Smriti Mandhana, won the Women’s Premier League title in Delhi earlier this month, ending the RCB franchise’s first title drought. The men now hope to do a repeat performance and end the trophy drought in the IPL.
Ahead of the curtain-raiser match in Chennai, the team, which includes batting greats like Glenn Maxwell, du Plessis, and Virat Kohli, appears upbeat. In a video that was shared by the Indian Premier League’s official account, Maxwell could be seen mimicking Virat Kohli during a net session. Maxwell was positioned behind Kohli and attempted to mimic his movements and shots.
RCB’s hopes for the upcoming season rest once again on the shoulders of
their star players; their batting unit looks stronger than ever, with a formidable lineup that includes players like du Plessis, Kohli, Maxwell, Cameron Green, Rajat Patidar, and Dinesh Karthik.
The team parted ways with Josh Hazlewood and Wanindu Hasaranga prior to the IPL auction, but it’s unclear if their replacements can step up to the plate. As a result, their bowling attack doesn’t exude the same confidence.
The bowling attack is spearheaded by Mohammed Siraj and features international pacers Lockie Ferguson, Reece Topley, and Alzarri Joseph in addition to Akash Deep, who recently made his Test series debut for India against England.
The return of Kohli
Since the T20I series against Afghanistan earlier in January, Virat Kohli has not participated in any competitive matches. He chose to stay with his wife, Anushka Sharma, as the couple welcomed their second child, Akaay, instead of playing in the five-match Test series against England.
