Mohammed Azharuddeen Reveals How Virat Kohli Welcomed Him To RCB After IPL 2021 Auction

The Royal Challengers Bangalore was one of the busiest franchises in the IPL 2021 auction and domestic all-rounder Mohammed Azharuddeen was one of their many signings. The experts did speculate for Mohammad Azharuddeen to get signed up by a franchise in an auction and the same happened. And the Royal Challengers’ one of the latest signings revealed how captain Virat Kohli welcomed him in the team.

Mohammed Azharuddeen showed plenty of promise in the latest edition of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, slamming 214 runs in five matches for Kerala at 53.50 by maintaining a strike rate of 194.50. The 26-year old particularly grabbed headlines by hammering a 54-ball unbeaten 137 against Mumbai. Royal Challengers Bangalore, which finished fourth in IPL 2020, sealed Azharuddeen’s deal for INR 20 lakhs – his base price.

Mohammed Azharuddeen revealed that a couple of minutes after the auction, he received a message from Virat Kohli, who welcomed him to the franchise and wished him best of luck. The Kerala-born cricketer underlined that it turned out to be an emotional moment for him and did not expect the Indian captain to text him like that.

“Two minutes after the auction, Virat bhai messaged me saying, ‘Welcome to RCB, all the best. Virat here.’ The message made me very emotional. It’s not something I could have even dreamt of, that he’d message,” Azharuddeen told Sportskeeda.

Virat bhai is someone I look at as a cricket icon: Mohammed Azharuddeen

Mohammed Azharuddeen further said that he always dreamt of playing alongside Virat Kohli as he looks up to him as an icon and finally, his wish came true. Aside from Mohammed Azharuddeen, the Royal Challengers made three blockbuster signings in Glenn Maxwell, Kyle Jamieson, and Daniel Christian in quest of their maiden IPL crown.

“It is something I’m very happy about. Virat bhai is someone I look at as a cricket icon. It has always been a dream of mine to play with Virat bhai. I’m very excited and very happy to be on the same team as him,” he added.

Also Read: IPL 2021: Chennai Super Kings Squad For 14th Edition