IPL 2021 – Virat Kohli – Royal Challengers Bangalore

The RCB captain believes his team has the resources to go “a couple of steps further” than they did last year

Royal Challengers Bangalore made it to the playoffs in IPL 2020 for the first time in four years, and captain Virat Kohli believes they are ready to go a couple of steps further in IPL 2021. Kohli’s belief is centred around the lack of home advantage for all teams – much like it was in IPL 2020 – and what he considers to be a stronger Royal Challengers squad than last year.

“There’s nothing quite like playing in Chinnaswamy in front of your home crowd,” Kohli said. “Obviously the fans are going to miss watching us play. Such are the times that we are in right now. But the good thing is that we are back in India. And one more positive about this edition, like last year, is that there is no home advantage.

“Every team is playing in neutral venues and the strength of your squad really comes to the fore. That’s precisely why last IPL was so competitive – until about the last three-four games everyone was in the reckoning to qualify, which I think is great for the tournament. The viewership was through the roof, which I expect to be the case this time around as well.

“Having done well last year in such a competitive scenario and space, we’re very confident that as a side, with a stronger squad this time around, we’ll have another great season. Just playing in set venues with four teams, I think that’s going to nullify all the home advantage that every team used to have.”