Vinay Kumar joins elite ranks of Chris Gayle, AB de Villiers with RCB Hall of Fame induction

Former Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) pacer Vinay Kumar has been honored by the franchise ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024. He has been elevated into the legendary status as the franchise has inducted him into the Hall of Fame.

Vinay Kumar is the third-highest wicket-taker for the Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the history of the Indian Premier League (IPL), only behind Yuzvendra Chahal and Harshal Patel.

After joining the team in the inaugural edition of the competition, Vinay Kumar represented the franchise in five seasons from 2008 to 2010 and 2012 to 2013. He delivered some really good performances for Team RCB and made an impact with the ball.

He played 70 matches for the franchise and bowled 238.4 overs while conceding 1982 runs. Vinay Kumar managed to bag 80 wickets for the Royal Challengers Bengaluru at an average of 24.77, an economy of 8.30, and a strike rate of 17.9. His best bowling figures in the league for the RCB was 4/40.

Ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) organized a special event ‘RCB unbox’ at the the iconic M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on Tuesday, March 19.

The stadium was fully packed to witness the epic event and it featured performances by artists like Brodha V, Raghu Dixit, and Alan Walker. The RCB franchise also celebrated the recent WPL 2024 win of the Smriti Mandhana-led Royal Challengers Bangalore Women.

Notably, Smriti Mandhana became the first RCB captain to win a title when her team defeated the Meg Lanning-led Delhi Capitals Women in the final of the WPL 2024 in Delhi. Smriti Mandhana entered the Chinnaswamy Stadium with the WPL trophy and the Virat Kohli along with the RCB men’s team gave the women’s team a guard of honor.

RCB Honors Vinay Kumar – Hall of Fame Induction Puts Him Along With Chris Gayle, AB de Villiers

During the event, Vinay Kumar was inducted into the RCB Hall of Fame and he became the third player in history to get the induction. He joined AB de Villiers and Chris Gayle, who were the first two inductees into the Hall of Fame during the previous season’s Unbox event, in the legendary list.

“ನಮ್ಮ ದಾವಣಗೆರೆ ಎಕ್ಸ್‌ಪ್ರೆಸ್!. Formidable cricketer. Our third highest wicket-taker. We’re celebrating Namma Vinay Kumar as we engrave his name on the elite list. – 𝐑𝐂𝐁 𝐇𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐨𝐟 𝐅𝐚𝐦𝐞,” the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) wrote on X.

ನಮ್ಮ ದಾವಣಗೆರೆ ಎಕ್ಸ್‌ಪ್ರೆಸ್! 🫶

Formidable cricketer ✅
Our third highest wicket-taker ✅

We’re celebrating Namma Vinay Kumar as we engrave his name on the elite list. – 𝐑𝐂𝐁 𝐇𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐨𝐟 𝐅𝐚𝐦𝐞 🤩#PlayBold #ನಮ್ಮRCB #RCBUnbox pic.twitter.com/f1j5QgfgSz

— Royal Challengers Bengaluru (@RCBTweets) March 19, 2024

Reacting to this, Vinay Kumar took to his official X handle to thank the Royal Challengers Bengaluru.

“Thank you so much for this wonderful gesture, means a lot 🙏 @RCBTweets,” the former Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) pacer wrote on X.

Thank you so much for this wonderful gesture, means a lot 🙏 @RCBTweets pic.twitter.com/F5ns8s1pbu

— Vinay Kumar R (@Vinay_Kumar_R) March 19, 2024

At the event, Virat Kohli also expressed his desire to win the IPL trophy with the RCB.

“With my abilities, with my experience to be able to do that for the fans, for the franchise. It’s kind of a dream of mine as well over so many years to know what it feels like to win the IPL, So, hopefully this year.”

Royal Challengers Bengaluru will be seen in action in the opening match of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 when they take on the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) on March 22 in Chennai.