IPL 2022: Virat Kohli calls RCB fans '12th Man Army', thanks them for unwavering support

Ahead of their first match of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022, Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) batter Virat Kohli expressed gratitude towards his fans.

Royal Challengers Bangalore's (RCB) star batsman Virat Kohli called RCB's fans as the team's 12th man army and said he is looking forward to their unwavering support in this edition of the IPL too.

Speaking exclusively on RCB Bold Diaries, a podcast run by the franchise, former captain Virat Kohli expressed his gratitude towards fans.

"I'm very excited and I'm extremely grateful. I've understood the impact and the contribution of people coming to the stadiums, in my career. Because, as much as you feel sometimes 'man! We're getting booed, we're getting a little bit of stick from the crowd' and 'century maarna hai.' And you sometimes get annoyed as a player, honestly.

"This is a very honest feeling of mine, we had a conversation about this, me and Anushka, she was like 'you must realize the importance and you must acknowledge the fact that the crowd has played such a huge role in your career.'

"Because, now when I look back at it, I fed off 40,00050,000 people's shouting. It drove me to a different level, where I felt like anything is possible, I could do anything. I have the energy of so many people behind me. They believe in me; they're looking forward to something from me. So, I'm very grateful to them, firstly. And secondly, I'm very happy (that) they're back in the stands. Hopefully, we'll get more and more of them as the tournament goes on."

He adds, "For me, sport is all about the atmosphere, the tension, people watching, people competing. And I think it is a perfect synchronization. It's a beautiful harmony when it happens. The fun is not there if the fans are not there. To me, sport is all about the fans."

The matches will be played across stadiums in Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, and Pune with 25% fan attendance as per the Covid protocols set by the BCCI.