Virat Kohli, in a recent interview with the host broadcaster for the 2023 ODI World Cup, had mentioned that Bengaluru was home to him and not his second home, as most like to believe.
Well, if he did consider Bengaluru his home then the M.Chinnaswamy Stadium decided they would make it a memorable homecoming for him even before a ball was bowled as hundreds of fans gathered outside the various gates of the stadium, clad in their Kohli jerseys.
Jerseys of the batting talisman were sold for Rs 200 by most sellers at different parts of the ground, Rs 50 less than those sold at other matches held at this venue. Additionally, just to give a reminder that Kohli was approaching a monumental milestone of 50 ODI hundreds, cardboard cuts of each of his hundreds were placed on the footpath leading up to the venue.
It must be remembered though that Kohli was born and brought up in Delhi and played First-class cricket, List A cricket and the early parts of Indian domestic T20 cricket for the team representing the national capital.
“I want India to bat first and Kohli to score his 50th ODI ton. I want them to score 400 batting first. If they bowl first, they can get the Netherlands out early,” a fan said.
One fan though here to see someone else bat.
“I am here to watch Rohit Sharma bat and see India win a World Cup game at Bengaluru,” the fan said.
But something changed in 2008 when he was picked by the Royal Challengers Bangalore in the inaugural edition of the Indian Premier League and since that day, Kohli has been as much Bengaluru’s boy as he is Dilli da Munda and his connection with the fans in the city has only grown.
In six matches that he has played in Bengaluru so far, Kohli has made 152 runs with a highest score of 89. Fans will hope that in his seventh game at the venue, he makes it an unforgettable occasion by reaching a colossal landmark.
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