IPL 2021: WATCH- "Coming up against Mumbai is always an exciting challenge," says RCB captain Virat Kohli

RCB and MI will play each other in the first match of IPL 2021.

RCB and MI will kick start IPL 2021 | BCCI/IPL

Royal challengers Bangalore (RCB) skipper Virat Kohli while talking about their clash with Mumbai Indians (MI) said that there could be nothing more exciting than a match between his team and defending champion to kick-start IPL 14. 

Indian premier league (IPL) 2021 is set to begin from today evening (9th April). Two heavyweights, Mumbai Indians (MI) and Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), will kick start the tournament at Chennai. 

In a video posted by RCB on their Twitter account, RCB skipper Virat Kohli while talking about an important clash with Rohit Sharma’s MI said that playing against the defending champions is an ‘exciting’ challenge.

He further recalled the 2 head to head encounters in IPL 2020 and remarked there couldn't be a more intense start to the new season.

"We got to have belief in our team, coming up against Mumbai is always an exciting challenge, last time around we had two exciting games. We won one, they won the 2nd one, which was obviously close but obviously, they came through because they have such a strong team. 

IPL 2021: Match 1, MI v RCB – COC Predicted Playing XIs

“The first one was a cliffhanger as well, big scores, Super Over. So we expect a great to start the IPL. I can't think of a more exciting or a more highly skilled and intense game to start of this IPL," Virat Kohli said in a video posted by RCB on their Twitter account. 

Kohli while lauding Mumbai Indians as a champion team said that they have to focus on their own skills and strengths as a team. He added that any team can beat anyone if it believes in itself.

"I truly believe that we have to focus on our skill and our strength as a side. Mumbai obviously is a champion team and they know how to win this competition, we know the strength of their team. So, if we focus too much on that then we are not going to focus on what we can do. 

At the end of the day you are playing cricket, it's a game which is played on the day, in the moment, and in that moment you can be better than any guy in the world if you believe yourself to be," he said. 

RCB however, has a poor record against Mumbai Indians as they have lost 8 out of their last 10 matches against defending champions. 

 
 

By Ankitjit Singh - 09 Apr, 2021

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