- Shamser Khalid
Tendulkar and Kohli Meet at Wankhede Stadium
Cricket fans were in for a treat on Tuesday, May 9, when Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli were seen sharing a fun moment ahead of the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) vs. Mumbai Indians (MI) game at the Wankhede Stadium. Kohli, who is representing RCB for the 16th consecutive year, met his idol and Mumbai Indians mentor Sachin Tendulkar before the marquee matchup.
The Wankhede Stadium is a special place for both players, as they were part of the Indian team that lifted the 2011 World Cup at the venue. Kohli, in particular, shares a special moment with Tendulkar at the stadium. On the night of April 2, 2011, Kohli carried Tendulkar for a lap of honour around the stadium. "Tendulkar has carried the burden of the nation for 21 years; it was time we carried him," Kohli had said.
Tendulkar and Kohli's partnership in cricket has been legendary, with the duo owning most of the batting records in the history of the sport. They have played over 1000 international matches, scoring almost 60,000 runs and 175 centuries. In the IPL, Tendulkar has scored 2,334 runs at an average of 34.84 and a strike rate of 119.82, while Kohli is the only batsman to score over 7,000 runs at an average of 36.68 and a strike rate of 129.49.
Team Status So Far
Both the Mumbai Indians and the Royal Challengers Bangalore have five wins in 10 games, and the outcome of their marquee matchup could have significant implications for their playoff chances.
MI will be hoping to continue their winning streak at home, having won their last two matches at the Wankhede Stadium. RCB, on the other hand, will be looking to get back to winning ways after losing their last two matches.
Meanwhile, Kohli expressed his gratitude for reaching the 7000-run mark in the IPL during the match against Delhi Capitals on Saturday, May 6. The RCB skipper scored 55 runs from 46 deliveries, taking his IPL total to 7006 runs. Despite his incredible achievement, RCB lost the match by seven wickets and 20 balls to spare.
Words from Kohli
In a post-match interview, Kohli shared his thoughts on reaching the milestone and said, "It’s a nice number, I just saw it on the screen. If it helps the team, I am happy to contribute. It’s a special moment for me, my family is here, my coach is here, Anushka is here. My whole journey started here. I feel nothing but gratitude, god has blessed me with such amazing things, I can only bow down."
Kohli reached the milestone in 233 matches, with five centuries and 49 half-centuries, including the 2016 season, where he set the single-season scoring record with 973 runs.
The Kohli-Tendulkar reunion has added to the excitement surrounding the match, and fans of both players will be eagerly looking forward to the clash. As the two teams take the field on Monday, all eyes will be on the battle between MI and RCB, and the outcome of the match could have a significant impact on the rest of the IPL season.
