RCB will start their IPL 2021 campaign against defending champions Mumbai Indians on April 9.
Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) skipper Virat Kohli feels that having no home advantage is one of the positives a side can take prior to the start of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 14.
After being held in UAE last year, the most lucrative T20 league, IPL, is all set to commence from tomorrow (9th April) in Indian with Virat Kohli’s RCB taking on Rohit Sharma’s MI in the season opener.
None of the team will have home advantage as the tournament will be played across 6 cities in India with Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad hosting the playoffs and the final of the tournament.
Chennai, Mumbai, Kolkata, Bengaluru and New Delhi will be the 5 cities along with Ahmedabad hosting the 14th edition of cash-rich league.
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Addressing the press conference ahead of RCB’s first match, skipper Virat Kohli said that fans would miss playing us at Chinnaswamy Stadium but the positive thing is that IPL is being held in India.
He added that playing on a neutral venue with no home advantage is one of the positives a side can take prior to the start of the IPL.
"There is nothing like playing in M Chinnaswamy Stadium in front of your home crowd and I understand that obviously fans will miss watching us play but the good thing is that we are back in India and one more positive is there is no home advantage.
"Every team is playing in neutral venues and the strength of your squad really comes to the fort. Precisely why last IPL was so competitive, until about the last three-four games, everyone was in reckoning to qualify," Virat Kohli said during virtual press conference.
While talking about IPL 2020, where the tournament managed to break viewership records as 20 crore people tuned in to watch the tournament opener, Kohli said that this time too tournament will be very competitive.
"Which I think was great for the tournament, the viewership went through the roof which I expect to be the case this time around as well and the tournament will be very competitive this time around too," he said.
Virat Kohli said that they had a good season last year and they would like to go a couple of steps further and clinch their maiden IPL title. He added that he’s very excited to be with the squad.
"Doesn't feel too long ago that we were together, because of how things have panned out last year. We resume at the normal time that IPL happens. We had a good season last time around, probably would like to go a couple of steps further which we obviously aim as a side. Very excited to be with the squad," he concluded.
(ANI inputs)