Picture Credit: Twitter
Mohammed Azharuddeen, the young and dynamic prodigy from Kerala was recently picked by Virat Kohli-led Royal Challengers Bangalore in the IPL 2021 auction that took place on February 18. The swashbuckling wicket-keeper was on top of the world after the auctions. He has been a sensation from Kerala and recently had a cracker of a Syed Mushtaq Ali tournament. In the five games he played, Azharuddeen plundered 214 runs at a blistering average of 53.50.
Virat Kohli, the skipper of the RCB franchise and the Indian cricket team, has time and often backed a lot of youngsters. A lot of young guns have flourished under his stewardship. Mohammed Azharuddeen recently revealed that Virat sent him a text after RCB secured his services. A small gesture but this really left a lasting impression on Azharuddeen and made him emotional. Azharuddeen labelled Virat as a “cricket icon” and was very excited to represent the Men in Red.
“Two minutes after the auction, Virat bhai messaged me saying, ‘Welcome to RCB, all the best. Virat here’, Mohammed Azharuddeen opened up in an interview with Sportskeeda. "The message made me very emotional. It’s not something I could have even dreamt of, that he’d message”. This clearly shows how the youngster reveres Virat.
“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,” Azharuddeen added.
Recap of reactions after RCB roped in Mohammed Azharuddeen
RCB have always been a very buzzing franchise. Even though they are yet to lift the IPL title, there is no dearth of the fans support and enthusiasm. As soon as Azharudden was picked by RCB for his base price of 20 lakh in the IPL 2021 auction, Twitterati poured in love and support for him.