Playoffs: RCB has a mere 6.25% Chance of winning IPL 2024
IPL Playoffs: The odds are stacked heavily against Royal Challengers Bengaluru going into the Eliminator against Rajasthan Royals on Wednesday. The match will be played at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. RCB’s unbelievable run in the second half of the IPL has made the Red Army fans feel – “Ee Sala Cup Namde” (This year, the cup is ours). However, the fans need to keep their emotions in check. Technically and historically speaking, RCB’s chances of winning the IPL 2024 is a mere 6.25 percent. We will get to the mathematical percentages later, meanwhile, let’s look at how the RCB has fared in their eliminator match history. Overall, the Red Army has played five IPL eliminator games, and the results are as follows. Royal Challengers Bengaluru In IPL Eliminators SEASON DATE MATCH RESULT VENUE 2010 Apr 21, 2010 MI vs RCB MI won by 35 runs Navi Mumbai 2015 May 20, 2015 RR vs RCB RCB won by 71 runs Pune 2016 May 14, 2016 RCB vs GL RCB won by 144 runs Bengaluru 2020 Nov 06, 2020 RCB vs SRH SRH won by 6 wickets Abu Dhabi 2022 May 25, 2022 LSG vs RCB RCB won by 14 runs Kolkata In 2010, the Red Army squared off with Paltan in the semis, which is also considered as an eliminator. RCB has won three knockout matches and lost two, which is a pretty good record. The last time they were in an eliminator was against Lucknow Super Giants in Kolkata. RCB defeated LSG by 14 runs and made it to the qualifier 2, where they lost to Rajasthan Royals by 7 wickets. RCB needs to emulate Deccan Chargers’ feat in 2009 Now, we come to the 6.25 percent part, and the calculation. In the past 14 editions, no team has won the IPL title, finishing in the 4th spot. In 16 seasons, overall, the first and only team to win an IPL title after finishing in the 4th spot in the points table, at the end of the league stage was the Deccan Chargers. As it has happened only once in 16 completed seasons, thus the percentage calculation. (1/16 *100 = 6.25) Also Read: Where has Virat Kohli invested his money? Coincidentally, the RCB was at the receiving end of the IPL 2009 final in Johannesburg. The Chargers, under Adam Gilchrist, defeated the Anil Kumble-led Bengaluru side by six wickets to write a remarkable comeback in tournament history. The only difference is that in 2009, there was no playoff system, and the top four teams made it to the semis. Since 2011, the side finishing fourth has had to win an eliminator, then the second qualifier, and finally the final to win the IPL title. RCB has never won an IPL trophy, despite making it to the final thrice in 2009, 2011, and 2016. This time though, they are running high on confidence, winning six straight matches to book a spot in the playoffs. Now, it is time for them to take one step at a time and realize their long-standing dream of winning an IPL title. Even though the RCB has a mere 6.25 percent chance of winning the IPL trophy, someone like Virat Kohli will grab that opportunity with both hands. No team in IPL history has managed to achieve this unique feat for the past 14 years. RCB has a chance to not only rewrite history books but also to carve a legacy of its own. If Virat Kohli and company can achieve this impossible feat, it will be a season to remember for Red Army fans for the rest of their lives.
Sunil Chhetri Retires, Is Virat Kohli next-in-line?
Two of the fittest athletes India has ever produced—Sunil Chhetri and Virat Kohli—made headlines on May 16, 2024. The topic was “RETIREMENT”. While one announced it, the other revealed what his future plans were. Both these legends are very close friends, but left their fans shell shocked with their respective announcements and comments. First let’s talk about Virat Kohli.Amidst the speculations of his retirement from the shortest format of the game post the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024, Indian cricket mainstay and former RCB Captain Virat Kohli spilled beans on his post retirement plans. He said he’ll take a nice, long break before deciding what to do next. Kohli in his recent interview said, “Once I am done, you won’t see me for a while..” The video surfaced on the social media just after Indian football sensation and Virat Kohli’s long time good friend, Sunil Chhetri took to the social media to announce his international retirement. Also Read: https://thesportzplanet.com/sunil-chhetri-retires-career-in-numbers-records-achievements/ Virat Kohli also demonstrated friendship goals as he took to his instagram comments section praising Chhetri’s illustrious career. Commenting on Chhetri’s video post on Instagram, Kohli wrote : “My brother. Proud.” IMG : Kohli’s Comment On Chhetri’s Retirement Post Despite being from different sports, Virat Kohli and Sunil Chhetri foster a strong bond and respect for each other. They support each other on and off the field, cheering for each other’s successes and offering encouragement during tough times and even cheering for their respective clubs. Their friendship goes beyond their professions, as they often spend time together outside of their sports, sharing laughs and experiences. Kohli and Chhetri show that true friendship can flourish between people from different backgrounds and interests. Apart from this, both the athletes possess roughly similar fitness goals and also possess core loyalty towards Bengaluru when it comes to franchise sport tournaments. Kohli’s Career In A Nutshell It’s been more than 14 years now that Virat Kohli has been playing international cricket. Since making his debut for India in 2008, Kohli has achieved remarkable success. With over 80 international centuries to his name, including 29 in Test matches and 50 in One Day Internationals (ODIs) and one in T20 Internationals, he has consistently dominated the cricketing world. Kohli has amassed over 26,733 runs across all formats of the game, making him one of the most prolific run-scorers in cricket history. He holds numerous records, such as being the fastest player to reach 8,000, 9,000, 10,000, and 11,000 runs in ODI cricket. Kohli’s leadership skills are also noteworthy, having captained the Indian cricket team with distinction. His commitment to fitness and relentless pursuit of excellence have earned him widespread admiration. As one of cricket’s modern icons, Virat Kohli’s extraordinary career continues to inspire millions of fans around the world. However with his retirement speculations and his recent statement in the media, the question looms, is India ready for the post Virat Kohli era? The Sportz Planet Desk,Atharva Shetye.
Know Virat Kohli’s Strategic Business Investments To Grow His Wealth
Virat Kohli isn’t just a fabulous cricketer but is more than a capable businessman as well. He is worth $127 million, as Brand Kohli continues to dominate the Indian markets. Now, in the twilight of his cricket career, Kohli has made some strategic business investments to grow his wealth. The 35-year-old cricketer has strategically and categorically invested in plenty of start-ups, a pivotal reason behind Kohli’s net worth surpassing Rs 1000 crore. Which investments are we talking about here? Here we go then. a) Rage Coffee: Launched in 2018, a Delhi-based FMCG brand, Virat Kohli has invested an undisclosed capital in Rage Coffee. The brand takes on some of the biggest coffee brands like Starbucks and Nescafe, much like how Kohli takes down the best bowlers in the opposition line-up. b) Blue Tribe: An Indian plant-based meat startup, Blue Tribe is backed by both Virat Kohli and his life partner Anushka Sharma. The strategic investment displays, India’s power couple’s commitment towards sustainable and innovative ventures. Also Read: How do the IPL stars get paid? c) Chisel Fitness: Fitness and Virat Kohli go hand-in-hand. In 2015, Kohli invested Rs 90 Crore with Chisel Fitness and CSE, and the rest they say is history. d) Hyperice: A renowned wellness brand, Hyperice, and Virat Kohli’s partnership started in 2021. He is an investor and the brand ambassador for one of the cutting-edge wellness solutions brands worldwide. e) Digital Insurance: ‘Let’s do the digit…digit…’ – sounds familiar? Virat Kohli is the brand ambassador and an investor in the insurance startup, owned by Canadian billionaire Prem Watsa. Reportedly, both Virat and Anushka have invested Rs 2.2 Crore in the startup, and the company’s evaluation has now reached $870 million. f) Galactus Funware Technology Private Limited: Being an athlete, Virat Kohli knows the challenges one faces on the field. In 2019, Kohli entered the gaming industry, with Galactus Funware Technology, a start-up based in Bengaluru. Mobile Premier League (MPL) is also the official kit and merchandise sponsor of the Indian cricket team, an association that started in 2020. Kohli has signed a 10-year association with the MPL, and the investment has yielded good returns for the King. g) Universal Sportsbiz Pvt Limited: Kohli’s fashion sense is amongst one of the best in the business. He ventured into the fashion business when he invested in Universal Sportsbiz Private Limited in 2020. Kohli’s idol Sachin Tendulkar too has invested in this start-up. It is reported that Kohli has invested close to Rs 20 Crore, thus making a strong statement in the world of sports-inspired fashion. Virat Kohli, a name that will resonate with Indian cricket for years to come, has ensured that his name is associated with some of the leading brands off the pitch. The journey of a thousand miles begins with a small step. No one knows this better than the King himself.
T20 World Cup 2024: 3 Key Takeaways from Team India’s Squad
After immense speculation and deliberation, the selection committee led by Ajit Agarkar finally revealed the Men’s national squad for the upcoming T20 World Cup in the West Indies and the US. Rohit Sharma will lead the team, with Hardik Pandya serving as his deputy. Veteran batter Virat Kohli has made it to the squad, despite the talks around a dip in his strike rate, beyond the powerplay in T20s. The team also comprises two wicket-keepers Rishabh Pant and Sanju Samson in the squad, with Jasprit Bumrah as the leader of the attack. Here’s the complete squad: Team India’s 2024 T20 World Cup Squad: Rohit Sharma(C), Hardik Pandya(VC), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant(WK), Sanju Samson(WK), Shivam Dube, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Md. Siraj Reserves – Shubman Gill, Rinku Singh, Khaleel Ahmed, Avesh Khan The social media was abuzz after the men’s squad was announced, with several fans questioning Rinku Singh’s omission from the main squad. Some also questioned, Team India’s bowling depth with Arshdeep Singh and Md. Siraj getting the nod over the likes of in-form Harshit Rana, Avesh Khan, and others. 3 Major Takeaways from Team India’s Squad Announcement: a) The return of the King – Virat Kohli Given the stature of the man, Virat Kohli should walk into any team, but this time things were different. Although he is the holder of the Orange Cap at the moment (till April 29, 2024), there was a lot of noise in and around the strike rate with which Kohli was batting in the IPL. He has 500 runs from 10 matches, with a strike rate of close to 148, yet fans were not convinced of having Kohli in the World T20, especially with batters who score at close to 170 or 180 strike rates. However, the selectors might have thought of the big-match temperament and the experience that he carries and drafted the great man into the squad. At 35, this could be Virat Kohli’s last shot at the T20 World Cup silverware. b) Rishabh Pant & Sanju Samon – The men behind the stumps: For multiple reasons, Rishabh Pant and Sanju Samson’s selection deserves to be celebrated. After what happened in December 2022, Pant’s return to competitive cricket in IPL 2024 has been remarkable, to say the least. In Sanju Samson’s case, he left the selectors with no option but to pick him after his consistent and match-winning performances for Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2024. With 385 runs from nine matches, Samson is the leading run scorer among all Indian wicketkeeper batters in the IPL 2024. His unbeaten 77 off 33 balls to guide the Rajasthan Royals home against the Lucknow Super Giants in a chase of 197 is probably the best of the lot. c) Kul-Cha & Dube make their mark The T20 World Cup squad also witnessed the return of wrist spinners – Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal into the national team. Chahal last played for India in August 2023, and has been the pick of the bowlers in IPL 2024 with 13 wickets from 9 matches. He is the only spinner in the race for the purple cap this season. For Shivam Dube, the big man has been in tremendous form this season. He has played the role of a finisher for Chennai Super Kings in the IPL. The southpaw has smashed 350 runs from 9 matches, at a whopping strike rate of 172.41. However, the tall fellow is yet to prove his credentials at the international level. Team India will commence their T20 World Cup campaign against Ireland on June 05th in New York, followed by the big one against Pakistan at the same venue on June 09th. India’s last two fixtures are scheduled against the hosts USA and Canada on June 12th and June 15th.