The 17th season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) is set to kick off with defending champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) locking horns with Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the much-anticipated Southern derby at the MA Chidambaram Stadium. The clash promises to be a spectacle, with both teams vying for a victorious start to their campaign.
Ahead of the commencement of the 17th season opener, RCB luminary, Virat Kohli, shared his thoughts on the impending clash against the Super Kings. He expressed his anticipation for a reunion with the legendary cricketer MS Dhoni, highlighting the significance of the encounter and the thrill of playing in front of fervent CSK supporters.
Virat Kohli’s sentiments
In a recent episode of RCB’s Bold Diaries, Kohli conveyed his eagerness to reconnect with Dhoni, emphasizing the allure of competing in front of the passionate CSK fanbase at the iconic Chepauk Stadium. Kohli described the IPL 2024 season opener against CSK as a “big game,” acknowledging the special significance of facing the formidable opponents in what is dubbed as the “Southern Derby.”
“Playing against Chennai is obviously always a special occasion, a big game. You know, the Southern Derby as they call it. Yeah, it’s nice to play in front of very passionate Chennai fans and yeah good to catch up with MS Dhoni, it’s been a while,” expressed Kohli, encapsulating the anticipation surrounding the forthcoming encounter.
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Kohli’s IPL dominance
Notably, Kohli stands as the highest run-getter in IPL history, exemplifying his prowess in the tournament. With a staggering 7263 runs in 237 matches and 229 innings, Kohli’s monumental achievements include seven centuries and 50 fifties, setting an unparalleled standard in the league. His batting average of 37.24 and a strike rate of 130.02 underscore his exceptional contribution to the sport.
Previous season’s performance
In the preceding IPL season, Kohli showcased his exceptional batting prowess, finishing as the fourth-highest run-scorer. Accumulating 639 runs at an impressive average of 53.25 and a formidable strike rate of 139.82, Kohli’s notable contributions included two centuries and six half-centuries. Despite his individual brilliance, RCB fell short of securing a playoff berth.
