Virat Kohli Delivers A Strong Message To The RCB Squad During Their First Virtual Meeting

Indian captain Virat Kohli will be one of the stars, who the fans are waiting every bit to witness on the field. Despite a forgettable last season of IPL, the Royal Challengers Bangalore chose Virat Kohli to lead in the upcoming edition in the UAE. Ahead of the 13th season of the cash-rich league, the 31-year old issued a firm message for the team concerning the COVID-19-related guidelines.

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On Friday, RCB’s Indian players landed in the UAE while the likes of Ab de Villiers, Chris Morris, and Dale Steyn joined them a day later. On the other hand, Virat Kohli opted for a charter flight from Mumbai, flying separately from the squad. All the players are serving the mandatory quarantine period, one of the necessary protocols in the wake of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Virat Kohli and the rest of RCB squad engaged in a virtual team meeting, wherein the skipper repeatedly stressed on the importance of following the protocols and the consequences of breaching it. Kohli stated that he expects everyone to adhere to the guidelines, making sure nothing gets compromised. The Delhi-born batsman went on to say one mistake could destroy the entire tournament and that any violations would be dealt with stringently. The director of RCB Mike Hesson and head coach Simon Katich were also present in the gathering.

“We have followed what’s been told to us and I would expect everyone to be on the same page in terms of securing the bubble at all times and making sure that nothing is compromised. Because I think one mistake by any one of us could literally spoil the whole tournament. And none of us want to do that. It (violation) will be dealt with very seriously. For accidental breach, players will be removed and sent into isolation for seven days and then come back only after he tests negative,” Kohli stated as quoted by Hindustan Times.

“I can’t wait to get to our first practice session” : Virat Kohli

Virat Kohli added that there would be strict actions if a player violated any protocol and emphasized that all must cooperate in protecting the bubble. He further said that he can’t wait for their practice session to kickstart and targets an atmosphere where everyone feels involved and responsible. Kohli concluded by encouraging to begin their campaign on the right note.

“We have to understand that we need to protect the bubble. I can’t wait to get to our first practice session, something that we all are going to cherish. An opportunity to create a good team culture from Day 1. For me it’s all about what can I do to create an environment where everyone feels a part of the team equally and everyone feels responsible for where we want to go equally. And I think all of us have to contribute towards that. Firstly the seniors in the team. So lets start things on the right note,” he added.

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