IPL 2017 is just hours away from the official kick start and the defending champions, Sunrisers Hyderabad, are all set to take on last year’s runner-up, Royal Challengers Bangalore in the first game of the tournament.
RCB has been the favorite this season, but recently, the injury bug has left them struggling to come up with a potentially winning team. While they will have the pressure to face the team that defeated them in IPL 2016 Finale, the absence of four of the highly celebrated players will also haunt them in the game.
First, it was Virat Kohli and KL Rahul, who were ruled out, at least from the initial stages of IPL 2017, due to their injuries, then it was AB de Villiers who injured his shoulder, just a couple of days before the 5th April kick-off. Three of the most dependable player being ruled out, all eyes were set on Sarfaraz Khan, but he too joined his peers on the injury bed.
Royal Challengers Bangalore’s journey in IPL 2017 haven’t seen a good start and the team now needs all the supports and prayers from around the world to finally kiss the Indian Premier League Trophy.
AB de Villiers, who was supposed to bear the Captain’s cap in the absence of Virat Kohli, Tweeted that he will be missing the first game of the season due to his injury and will join the team later on (finally a breath of relief for RCB fans). He also wished the now captain, Shane Watson and the whole team all the luck.
AB de Villiers on Twitter
Really disappointed to be missing the opening game of the IPL tomorrow, good luck to @ShaneRWatson33 and the rest of the @RCBTweets boys!
New Zealand’s power hitter, Brendon Mccullum had something to say about ABD’s Tweet which triggered another banter.
Brendon McCullum on Twitter
@ABdeVilliers17 @ShaneRWatson33 @RCBTweets Dodgy back again bro? You fellas almost need to roll out the coach for game 1!?
If it was a joke then could have really gone wrong but AB de Villiers found the funny side and said that seeing Daniel Vettori bowl once again would literally be an entertaining start for IPL 2017, so did Brendon Mccullum.
AB de Villiers on Twitter
@Bazmccullum @ShaneRWatson33 @RCBTweets Now that would be good entertainment!
Brendon McCullum on Twitter
@ABdeVilliers17 @ShaneRWatson33 @RCBTweets He would prob still get his 2 for 18 off 4 overs! Proper bowler! Catch u soon, quick recovery bro
There is no denying the fact that RCB’s coach Daniel Vettori is a legend and will remain one till the end of time but the Shane Watson-led side has many other things to worry as three of their opening batsmen will not be available today for the match against Sunrisers Hyderabad and they would really want to finally taste an IPL title victory this year.
P.S AB de Villiers and Brendon Mccullum have entertained us before the start of IPL 2017 and the same is expected from them on the ground. Both are capable of hitting ‘Maximums’ and seeing them against each other in the 10th edition of Indian Premier League will be a sight to cherish forever.