Xtra time Web Desk: Royal Challengers Bangaluru is set to host Kolkata Knight Riders in Bengaluru on March 29, in match 10 of IPL 2024. RCB currently stands with one win and one loss in two matches, while KKR commenced their IPL 17 journey with a victory over SRH in Kolkata.
The historic rivalry between these teams traces back to the inaugural IPL match in 2008, where KKR convincingly defeated RCB, setting the tone for their encounters since there on.
Gautam Gambhir, now the of mentor for KKR and former captain, has been intimately involved in many battles against RCB, particularly during Virat Kohli’s captaincy. Ahead of the IPL 2024 clash, Gambhir reflected on the enduring rivalry, describing RCB as underachieving despite having formidable batsmen like Virat Kohli, Chris Gayle, and AB de Villiers in their lineup at one point.
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Gambhir said, “One team I wanted to beat every time, even in my dreams, was RCB. Second most high profile team, flamboyant team, With Virat Kohli, AB de Villiers, Chris Gayle, honestly not won anything, but still thought that they won everything, that kind of attitude.”
Gambhir also pointed out that three of KKR’s best moments and multiple memorable wins in IPL have come against RCB itself. He counted from Brendon McCullum’s 158 for KKR against RCB in the IPL 2008 curtain raiser. He then recalled KKR bundling out RCB for the lowest IPL score ever-49.
“The three best wins KKR has ever had was against RCB. The first time, the first game of the IPL, Brendon McCullum against RCB. 49 all-out, RCB. 6 overs hundred, probably the only time in IPL when 100 runs were scored in the first 6 overs. Chris Lynn and Sunil Narine,” Gambhir stated.
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Gambhir also said that he wants to come back onto the field for KKR and defeat RCB.
“We always knew they were a very strong side, and probably the most aggressive batting unit as well with Chris Gayle, Virat Kohli, AB de Villiers, what can get better than that. If one thing I want out of my IPL career, one thing I would love to have been again go on the cricket field, and beat RCB,” Gambhir added.