A giant artwork of Virat Kohli was unveiled by fans outside the Ekana Stadium in Lucknow as the venue geared up for Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s big-ticket clash against Lucknow Super Giants on Thursday. Unlike a glitzy digital poster, the 345-square-foot piece appeared to be meticulously handmade in black and white. Interestingly, his ardent supporters chose not to depict him in his RCB avatar, opting instead for his T20 international look for the massive installation.
The build-up reflected Kohli’s hold over the city. LSG vs RCB Updates | Scorecard
Hours before the first ball was bowled, fans were seen busily erecting the towering tribute outside the stadium gates. As expected, the Lucknow crowd turned out in huge numbers for the high-profile encounter, as the city has long been one of Virat Kohli’s most loyal bastions. Hundreds of supporters, clad in the iconic ‘Kohli 18’ jersey, were seen making their way toward the stadium well before the gates even opened.
The atmosphere reached a fever pitch when Kohli eventually emerged from the tunnel to begin his pre-match routines. A literal sea of red rushed toward the boundary ropes just to catch a closer glimpse of the superstar cricketer, who has always visibly enjoyed his time playing in Lucknow.
The “Virat, Virat” chants were so deafeningly loud that they even impacted the official proceedings, leaving Royal Challengers Bengaluru captain Rajat Patidar unable to hear the broadcasters during the toss. Kohli, ever the showman, ensured he entertained the packed stands during his training drills, frequently acknowledging the outpouring of love from the thousands of fans watching his every move.
At the toss, the RCB skipper won and opted to field on what was a breezy evening in the city. Kohli will now look to continue his impressive run of form at the Ekana, where he has historically flourished, scoring 128 runs-including a half-century-in his three previous appearances at the venue.
On the other hand, Lucknow Super Giants, currently reeling at the bottom of the points table, opted for a major shake-up by making three changes to their starting XI. Their regular opener Josh Inglis missed out due to a niggle, while the side was also without the services of pace duo Mohsin Khan and Avesh Khan. In a tactical shift, young Arshin Kulkarni was sent out to open the batting alongside Mitchell Marsh, while spinners Digvesh Rathi and Shahbaz Ahmed were brought in to replace the departed fast bowlers.
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