PTIVirat Kohli has dedicated 18 years of his senior cricket career to Royal Challengers Bengaluru, and first-time skipper Rajat Patidar knows just how much an IPL title would mean to the team—and to one of India’s greatest cricketing icons.
RCB have reached the final three times—in 2009, 2011, and 2016—but fell short on each occasion, with Kohli’s individual brilliance unable to end the franchise’s long-standing title drought.
"Of course. I think he has given a lot of years to RCB and the international side also. We will try to do our best in the game," Patidar told media here on Monday during his pre-match press conference alongside PBKS' Shreyas Iyer when asked if the Kohli factor would dominate the build-up.
When asked if focus on one player alone was frustrating given RCB have been one of the most dominant sides in this competition, Patidar replied, "I think it is not frustrating for me..
"We are not looking on the stage that we are in the finals. We will try to play our best cricket. We are not playing here for the stage. I always like to keep things simple," he added.
The Kohli factor has certainly weighed heavily on RCB drawing strong crowd support even while playing away from home and Patidar said that gives them feeling of being on their home ground.
"Wherever we go, we feel that the crowd is a home ground for us and (given ) the way they are showing support and love from the (last many) years," he said.
RCB, however, will be concerned over the availability of big-hitting Tim David, who has not featured in their last two matches so far owing to a hamstring injury.
"Till now, I have no idea about Tim David. Doctors are there and we will get to know this evening," he said.
Virat Kohli's dream
Punjab Kings stand in the way of Virat Kohli's dream of finally winning the Indian Premier League in Tuesday's final at the world's biggest cricket stadium.
No matter which team prevails at the 132,000-capacity venue in Ahmedabad it will be a first -- neither Punjab nor Kohli's Royal Challengers Bengaluru have won the IPL since it launched in 2008.
Punjab booked their place in the decider with a five-wicket victory over five-time champions Mumbai Indians on Sunday.
Kohli and Bengaluru will have a psychological edge after thrashing Punjab by eight wickets at the start of the playoffs last week.
It is the fourth time that Kohli and his team have reached the final of cricket's richest tournament, but they have never been able to take that last step.
The vast majority in attendance will be cheering on Kohli, the 36-year-old superstar batsman and icon to Indian cricket fans.
Kohli, who last month retired from Test cricket alongside Rohit Sharma, has again been Bengaluru's go-to batsman with 614 runs, including eight half-centuries, in 14 innings this season.
He has made no attempt to hide his desperation to win the IPL at the 18th attempt and add it to a long list of accolades that includes two World Cup crowns.
He has talked about his "heartbreak" of failing to win the IPL, and celebrated last week's win against Punjab saying: "One more to go."
Asked if the Kohli factor was weighing on the finale, Bengaluru skipper Rajat Patidar said: "Of course".
"I think he has given a lot of years to RCB and the international side also," Patidar told reporters on the eve of the final.
"I think we will try to do our best in the game."
RCB have reached the final three times—in 2009, 2011, and 2016—but fell short on each occasion, with Kohli’s individual brilliance unable to end the franchise’s long-standing title drought.
"Of course. I think he has given a lot of years to RCB and the international side also. We will try to do our best in the game," Patidar told media here on Monday during his pre-match press conference alongside PBKS' Shreyas Iyer when asked if the Kohli factor would dominate the build-up.
When asked if focus on one player alone was frustrating given RCB have been one of the most dominant sides in this competition, Patidar replied, "I think it is not frustrating for me..
"We are not looking on the stage that we are in the finals. We will try to play our best cricket. We are not playing here for the stage. I always like to keep things simple," he added.
The Kohli factor has certainly weighed heavily on RCB drawing strong crowd support even while playing away from home and Patidar said that gives them feeling of being on their home ground.
"Wherever we go, we feel that the crowd is a home ground for us and (given ) the way they are showing support and love from the (last many) years," he said.
RCB, however, will be concerned over the availability of big-hitting Tim David, who has not featured in their last two matches so far owing to a hamstring injury.
"Till now, I have no idea about Tim David. Doctors are there and we will get to know this evening," he said.
Virat Kohli's dream
Punjab Kings stand in the way of Virat Kohli's dream of finally winning the Indian Premier League in Tuesday's final at the world's biggest cricket stadium.
No matter which team prevails at the 132,000-capacity venue in Ahmedabad it will be a first -- neither Punjab nor Kohli's Royal Challengers Bengaluru have won the IPL since it launched in 2008.
Punjab booked their place in the decider with a five-wicket victory over five-time champions Mumbai Indians on Sunday.
Kohli and Bengaluru will have a psychological edge after thrashing Punjab by eight wickets at the start of the playoffs last week.
It is the fourth time that Kohli and his team have reached the final of cricket's richest tournament, but they have never been able to take that last step.
The vast majority in attendance will be cheering on Kohli, the 36-year-old superstar batsman and icon to Indian cricket fans.
Kohli, who last month retired from Test cricket alongside Rohit Sharma, has again been Bengaluru's go-to batsman with 614 runs, including eight half-centuries, in 14 innings this season.
He has made no attempt to hide his desperation to win the IPL at the 18th attempt and add it to a long list of accolades that includes two World Cup crowns.
He has talked about his "heartbreak" of failing to win the IPL, and celebrated last week's win against Punjab saying: "One more to go."
Asked if the Kohli factor was weighing on the finale, Bengaluru skipper Rajat Patidar said: "Of course".
"I think he has given a lot of years to RCB and the international side also," Patidar told reporters on the eve of the final.
"I think we will try to do our best in the game."
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