After the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) were defeated by the Rajasthan Royals (RR) in the IPL 2024 Eliminator, former England captain Kevin Pietersen suggested that Virat Kohli should contemplate parting ways with RCB.
Under Faf du Plessis’s leadership, the team faced a disappointing four-wicket defeat against the Rajasthan Royals at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Wednesday, May 22. This loss meant that Royal Challengers Bengaluru couldn’t maintain their winning streak, and their 17-year quest for a title remained unfulfilled as they were eliminated from the prestigious tournament.
Despite his exceptional performance, Virat Kohli ended the season without securing a title. Leading RCB’s batting lineup, Kohli emerged as the top run-scorer, amassing 741 runs in 15 matches with an impressive average of 61.75 and a strike rate of 154.69. His stellar contributions included five half-centuries and one century, with his highest score being an unbeaten 113.
Kevin Pietersen, the former England cricketer, compared Kohli’s predicament to that of football icons Cristiano Ronaldo and Harry Kane. Pietersen noted that these football stars often sought new opportunities elsewhere in pursuit of greater success.
“I have said it before and I will say it again — the greats of the game in other sports, have left teams to go and seek glory somewhere else. When he has tried and tried so hard — won the Orange Cap yet again and done so much yet again and the franchise fails again, I understand for the brand of the team and the commercial value he brings to the team… But Virat Kohli deserves a trophy. He deserves to play in a team that could help him to get that trophy,” Pietersen told Star Sports.
“I think it’s about time Virat thought long and hard. Beckham left, Ronaldo left, Messi left, Harry Kane just left Spurs and went to Bayern Munich,” he further added.
The Rajasthan Royals brought an end to the Royal Challengers Bangalore’s tumultuous campaign in the Indian Premier League with a hard-fought four-wicket victory in the Eliminator. After their bowlers successfully restricted RCB to 172/8, the Royals chased down the target of 173, finishing at 174/6, thanks to Rovman Powell’s decisive finishing touches in a tense conclusion. Riyan Parag, displaying his usual grit and determination in challenging circumstances, played a crucial role in keeping Rajasthan’s hopes alive in the tournament. This victory marked the Royals’ first win following four consecutive losses and a game that was abandoned.
