The Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) have reportedly cancelled the press meet and practice session due to a security situation ahead of the all-important eliminator clash of IPL 2024 against the Rajasthan Royals on Wednesday. According to Bengali daily Anandabazar Patrika, a police officer stated that the team did not want to take a risk, especially with the presence of Virat Kohli, who is deemed a national treasure.
The Gujarat Police, on Monday, arrested four men at the Ahmedabad airport as they had suspicion about their involvement in terror activities. As per media reports, the police recovered arms, videos, and texts that pointed to some terror activities. While the Royals held their practice session as usual, RCB did not proceed with the same.
“Virat Kohli learned about the arrests after arriving in Ahmedabad. He is a national treasure, and his security is our utmost priority. RCB did not want to take a risk. They informed us that there would be no practice session. Rajasthan Royals were also informed about the development, but they had no problems going ahead with their practice,” said Vijay Singha Jwala, a police officer, as quoted by Anandabazar Patrika.
The security measures were also tightened, with a separate entry for the RCB players.
Meanwhile, after being bottom dwellers at the start of May, RCB won six games in a row to rise to the number four position and seal playoffs spot in IPL 2024, in what is now deemed as one of the greatest comebacks in the history of the sport.
(The article is published under a mutual content partnership arrangement between The Free Press Journal and Connected to India)