- Shamser Khalid
RCB Captain's Goof Causes Kohli and Fans to Laugh
In a hilarious team event ahead of the Royal Challengers Bangalore’s IPL 2023 opener against Mumbai Indians, RCB captain Faf du Plessis made a little mistake.
When asked to say the team slogan, "Ee saala cup namde", which means "The cup is ours this year" the ex-South African captain said "Ee Sala Cup Nahi" which means "No cup this year" instead. This left his teammate and Indian captain, Virat Kohli, in fits of laughter.
The RCB will be looking to end their 15-year trophy drought this season, and the match against MI on Sunday will be a great opportunity to start their campaign on a high note.
RCB's Troubles and MI's Status
However, RCB has been hit by injuries, with Rajat Patidar and Josh Hazlewood both sidelined for at least the first half of the IPL, and Glenn Maxwell is also unlikely to feature in Sunday’s game. It remains to be seen how RCB will cope without these key players.
While England’s Will Jacks will miss the full season, all eyes will be on Glenn Maxwell, who missed the last two ODIs for Australia against India in the recent series after playing the first match in Mumbai.
Faf, who took over the captaincy role from Kohli last year, expressed his confidence in the team’s ability to win the tournament this season. He also emerged as the highest run-scorer for the Bangalore-based side, scoring 468 runs in the previous season.
RCB will be counting on Faf du Plessis and Virat Kohli to lead the charge and deliver a winning start to their IPL campaign.
Meanwhile, Mumbai Indians will be hoping to bounce back from a poor performance in the previous season, where they finished last in the points table. They have added Jofra Archer to their squad, but they will miss the services of their star pacer Jasprit Bumrah, who is out due to injury.
What to Expect with the Opener
The two teams are set to face off at M. Chinnaswamy on Sunday night, in what promises to be a thrilling match. The stadium is expected to be packed to the brim, with fans eagerly anticipating the start of the IPL season.
The upcoming match between RCB and MI has been described as the biggest match of IPL 2023 so far by former Indian cricketer Harbhajan Singh. He believes that this match will be a treat for cricket fans on a lazy Sunday.
South Africa legend Jacques Kallis also expressed his excitement for the match, highlighting the electric atmosphere of M Chinnaswamy Stadium. Kallis said that the visiting teams often feel the pressure due to the passionate home fans, and he can't wait to watch the upcoming game.
Other Exciting News
In another exciting development, Kohli and Sunil Chhetri recently spoke at the ‘Let There Be Sport’ Conclave, organized by PUMA India. This was the first time the two sports stars had come together on a single platform, and they spoke about the importance of prioritizing sports and fitness at a mass level.
They also highlighted the need for integrating sports as a relevant subject in educational institutions to help the development of the country.
