Kohli has given a lot of years to RCB, we need to do our best for him: Rajat Patidar
Ahmedabad (PTI): Virat Kohli has given 18 years of his senior cricket career to Royal Challengers Bengaluru and their first-time skipper Rajat Patidar understands what it would mean for the team to win the coveted Indian Premier League title for one of country's bonafide cricket legends.
In all, RCB have played a total of three finals in 2009, 2011 and 2016 and have ended up on the losing side in each of the summit clashes with Kohli’s individual brilliance not being enough for them to end their title drought.
“Of course. I think he has given a lot of years to RCB and the international side also. We will try to do our best in the game,” Patidar told media here during his pre-match press conference alongside PBKS’ Shreyas Iyer when asked if the Kohli factor would dominate the build-up.
When asked if focus on one player alone was frustrating given RCB have been one of the most dominant sides in this competition, Patidar replied, “I think it is not frustrating for me. We are not looking on the stage that we are in the finals. We will try to play our best cricket. We are not playing here for the stage. I always like to keep things simple”.
The Kohli factor has certainly weighed heavily on RCB drawing strong crowd support even while playing away from home and Patidar said that gives them feeling of being on their home ground.
“Wherever we go, we feel that the crowd is a home ground for us and (given ) the way they are showing support and love from the (last many) years,” he said.
RCB, however, will be concerned over the availability of big-hitting Tim David, who has not featured in their last two matches so far owing to a hamstring injury.
“Till now, I have no idea about Tim David. Doctors are there and we will get to know this evening,” he said.
For Patidar himself, it will be a big challenge given he was appointed RCB’s captain only before the start of the tournament, while the leader in the opposition camp, Shreyas Iyer won the IPL with his former franchise Kolkata Knight Riders last year.
Iyer is also the only captain in IPL history to have led three different teams — Delhi Capitals, KKR and now Punjab Kings — into IPL finals.
Patidar said for him it would be essential to create a good environment for his players.
“Till now, I have enjoyed a lot to be honest. For me, I think it is a great opportunity to learn from the great leaders of the game, (some) great players, great foreign players of the game. It is a great opportunity for me to learn from them and their different ideas, which is helping me a lot in my leadership role,” he said.
“I have always tried to create a good environment off the field as much as I can so that every player, whether it is a domestic player or an international player, they both feel the same. They should feel relaxed and confident. I think this is my first point,” Patidar added.
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Jharkhand: Man beaten to death over theft suspicion
Medininagar (Jharkhand) (PTI): A 22-year-old man was allegedly beaten to death by a group of people after they suspected him of trying to steal a battery from a vehicle in Jharkhand's Palamu district, police said on Sunday.
One of the accused has been detained, a police officer said.
The incident occurred in Teliyahi village in Padwa police station area late on Saturday night. The deceased has been identified as Pawan Ram, a resident of Murma village in the same police station area.
Palamu Superintendent of Police Reeshma Ramesan told PTI that upon receiving information around 12.30 am that a man accused of trying to steal the battery of a vehicle has been caught, a patrolling team reached the spot and found that the victim had been tied up and beaten up by the villagers.
Police rescued him and took him to the nearest hospital, where he was declared brought dead, she said.
"The police have detained one accused so far. It is also suspected that the victim might have gone there to meet his lover and was caught by villagers, who accused him of trying to steal the battery of a tractor. Further investigation is underway," she added.
A medical board is conducting the post-mortem examination of the deceased in the presence of a magistrate. The entire process is being videographed and photographed, the SP said.
Medininagar Sub-divisional Police Officer (SDPO) Rajesh Kumar told PTI that the detained person has been identified as Paras Nath Mehta (35), and a manhunt has been launched to nab the others.
The SDPO said it is a clear case of mob lynching and the police have lodged an FIR under Section 103(2) of the BNS and other sections.
The police have not recovered any stolen battery from him, he added.
