Credit: Star Sports
Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) batting icon Virat Kohli has disclosed how he felt when he appeared for his team against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the inaugural match of the Indian Premier League (IPL) played at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium on April 18 in 2008. On the 18th anniversary of IPL, Kohli appeared on the ‘18 Calling 18’ show from JioStar and recalled his experience of facing Ishant Sharma, who was representing KKR in that game. Chasing a mammoth target of 223, RCB got bundled out on 82 and handed a 140-run win to Kolkata. Brendon McCullum emerged as the star of the game as he played an iconic knock of an unbeaten 158 off 73. The New Zealander also received the player of the match for his stunning innings.
Kohli, who came to bat at number three in that contest after his captain Rahul Dravid’s departure, recollected his memories of confronting Ishant in front of a massive Bengaluru crowd. Both Kohli and Ishant were evolved together as cricketers while playing for Delhi in domestic cricket. "I had never played in a crowd like that, in environment like that plus watching that kind of innings (McCullum’s unbeaten 158). But, the most interesting part for me which I have never spoken about is that Ishant and me played all our cricket together. I had played him several times but in that game, when he was bowling against me, I felt that another (stellar) level of the bowler is bowling. That was the pressure. Now you understand how the environment makes a difference," said Kohli.
He also added, "If I was playing against him (Ishant) in the nets, I won’t be intimidated but in that moment, I was feeling I won’t be able to play against Ishant because of the environment, pressure, and the first wicket has already fallen. That moment I realised what pressure is.” The right-handed batter fell against Ashok Dinda in that game after scoring only one off five.
RCB to host Punjab Kings in Bengaluru in IPL 2025
RCB will take on Punjab Kings (PBKS) at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium on April 18. Bengaluru have won four games in the competition and all those contests were held in away venues. Challengers are yet to deliver a winning moment to their home crowd in this tournament as they have played a couple of matches in their backyard and lost both.
Against Punjab, Rajat Patidar and his boys will look to get the better of Punjab to win their first game at home. PBKS are expected to pose a tough challenge to RCB as the Shreyas Iyer-led side will enter the match with the fact in their minds that they defended IPL’s lowest total of 111 against reigning champions KKR in their previous game played in Mohali.
