'Royal toh hai hi tu' - Yuzvendra Chahal recalls conversation with Virat Kohli following RCB exit

Veteran leg spinner Yuzvendra Chahal has parted ways with Royal Challengers Bangalore after being associated with the franchise for eight seasons. The 31-year-old, who enjoyed tremendous success at RCB, will now serve Rajasthan Royals in the Indian Premier League (IPL) as the franchise bought him for INR 6.5 crore in the mega auction. Notably, the eight existing franchises had the option of retaining a maximum of four players before the bidding event.

Surprisingly, however, RCB used their cards to make just three retentions – Virat Kohli, Glenn Maxwell, and Mohammed Siraj. While it was speculated that Chahal made himself unavailable for retention as he sought a better contract in the auction event, the leg-spinner cleared the air saying he wasn’t communicated regarding his future with the franchise.

I am emotionally attached to RCB: Yuzvendra Chahal

Chahal did admit that RCB’s Director of Cricket Mike Hesson told him about the players who are being retained. However, the leggie wasn’t asked if he wants to be retained. Meanwhile, Chahal also revealed the conversation he had with former RCB skipper Virat Kohli following his exit from the franchise.

“Not much. He (Virat Kohli) congratulated me and said ‘Royal toh hai hi tu (You are still a Royal),’” Chahal was quoted as saying by the Times of India. In the very same interaction, the leg-spinner revealed he’s emotionally attached to RCB and didn’t imagine playing for any other franchise. He also quashed the claims of leaving the team to get a more lucrative contract.

“I am emotionally attached to RCB. I never thought I would play for some other team. People and fans on social media are still asking me ‘why did you ask for this much money?’. The reality is that Mike Hesson (RCB Director of Cricket) called me and said ‘Listen Yuzi, there are three retentions’ (Virat Kohli, Glenn Maxwell, and Mohammed Siraj),” said the spinner.

“They didn’t ask me whether I wanted to be retained or tell me if they wanted to retain me. They just talked about the three retentions and I was told that – ‘we will go for you in the auction’. Neither was I asked about money nor did I get any offer of retention,” he added.