'If we were some faltu team' - Virat Kohli shuts down RCB trollers with blunt statement

Royal Challengers Bangalore got their Indian Premier League 2023 campaign off to a great start, as they defeated the five-time champions Mumbai Indians by a massive margin of eight wickets at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, in Bengaluru. Virat Kohli starred with the bat for RCB as he produced a scintillating knock of 82 off 49 balls, smashing six fours and five sixes in his innings.

Kohli and Faf du Plessis, who scored 73 off 43 balls, piloted Bangalore to chase down the target of 172 with 22 balls to spare. RCB has been a part of IPL since the inception of the tournament in 2008 but has failed to win the coveted trophy in their almost 16-year-long history.

Commenting on the team’s trophy drought, Kohli recently said that since RCB is a big franchise that’s why fans expect so much from the team. During an episode of RCB Insider, the star batter also discussed the social media presence of the team.

"Our social media performance is miles ahead of everyone. Get a trophy there, then watch. You bring one social media trophy and see how RCB will win. No competition only. Two weeks into the tournament, we will win. Don't need to play the last few games; 4-5 enough," Kohli said.

Furthermore, the 34-year-old said that people mock them for not winning a trophy but are not aware of the kind of pressure they go through. He also stated that the massive fan following that their team has is a testament to the fact that they’re a big team and not an ordinary one.

"This is big franchise pressure. Lot of people take it as all fun and games like 'This team doesn't win'. Come and play, when there are so many expectations. We're a big team. Otherwise, why would we have so many so fans if we were some faaltu team," Kohli concluded.

RCB bowling unit was all over MI in the first game

Coming back to RCB’s first game against MI, the Faf du Plessis-led side was all over Mumbai’s batters in the first innings as they had them reeling at 48/4 after 8.5 overs. It took a heroic knock from Tilak Varma who played a magnificent knock of 84* off 46 balls to bail MI out of trouble.

All of RCB’s bowlers were amongst the wickets except Glenn Maxwell as they restricted MI to 171/7 in their allotted 20 overs. After getting their campaign off to a great start, RCB will look to continue their winning run against Kolkata Knight Riders on April 6, at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata.