In the IPL 2024 Eliminator on Wednesday, Virat Kohli and Royal Challengers Bengaluru suffered a heartbreaking loss against Rajasthan Royals. Despite Kohli’s star power, RCB’s long-standing quest for their maiden IPL title remains unfulfilled, as the franchise is yet to win the coveted trophy since the tournament’s inception.
After the game, England great Kevin Pietersen gave Virat Kohli some advise, stating that to win an IPL title, he should leave RCB.
“Many of the greats in other sports have left their teams to pursue glory. Similarly, Virat Kohli has consistently performed at an exceptional level; winning the Orange Cap multiple times. Yet, his franchise has continued to underperform,” said Pietersen on broadcast with Star Sports.
“While the star power Kohli brings to the team is immense, but he deserves to play for a franchise that can win a trophy with him. He has tried so hard, and it’s time for his efforts to be rewarded with a championship. Kohli is one of the all-time greats of the game. He has earned the right to play for a successful, trophy-winning franchise that can match his world-class abilities,” he continued.
Pietersen further emphasized Kohli’s Delhi origins and recommended that he follow the footsteps of Harry Kane, David Beckham, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Lionel Messi.
“He should consider returning to Delhi. He has a home and young family in the city, allowing him to spend more time at home instead of constantly traveling. As a Delhi native, it makes sense for him to go back, especially since the city is just as eager for his presence as Bengaluru. It’s time for Virat to deeply consider his future, as several other top footballers, including Beckham, Ronaldo, Messi, and most recently Harry Kane, have made high-profile moves away from their clubs,” he stated.
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The Rajasthan Royals chased down a target of 173 runs, finishing at 174/6 in 19 overs. Yashasvi Jaiswal top-scored with a blistering 45 runs off just 30 balls. Meanwhile, Mohammed Siraj claimed two wickets for the Royal Challengers.
Earlier, Rajat Patidar (34), Virat Kohli (33), and Mahipal Lomror (32) had taken RCB to a respectable 172/8 in their 20 overs. For the Royals, Avesh Khan took three wickets. The Royals will now face Sunrisers Hyderabad in Qualifier 2, with the winner advancing to the IPL 2024 final against Kolkata Knight Riders.