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Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) cancelled their practice session scheduled for the day before their crucial IPL 2024 Eliminator match against Rajasthan Royals (RR) on May 22. This decision came due to security concerns. The practice was supposed to be held at the Gujarat College ground in Ahmedabad.
While RCB cancelled their practice and press conference, the Rajasthan Royals continued with their usual nets session at the same venue. This lack of a press conference by RCB was unusual for a big-ticket IPL knockout match.
It's important to note that both teams couldn't practice at the main stadium (Narendra Modi Stadium) on that day because it was being used for another crucial match - IPL Qualifier 1 between Kolkata Knight Riders and Sunrisers Hyderabad. Hence, the Gujarat College ground was assigned as an alternative practice venue for RCB and RR.
Security threat to Kohli?
A Bengali newspaper, Anandabazar Patrika , shed light on the possible reason behind RCB cancelling their practice session and the absence of press conferences from both teams. Citing Gujarat Police officials, the report suggests that a potential security threat to Virat Kohli might have been the primary concern.
This suspicion arose due to the arrest of four men at the Ahmedabad airport on Monday night. The police suspect these men of involvement in terrorist activities. According to the report, authorities recovered weapons and suspicious communications from their hideout.
The information about this arrest was allegedly shared with both RR and RCB. While the Rajasthan Royals apparently continued with their planned activities, RCB informed security personnel that they would not hold a practice session. Interestingly, the report highlights that RCB offered no official explanation for this sudden cancellation.
It's worth noting that both teams arrived in Ahmedabad on Monday, giving them ample time to rest before the match. This raises questions about why RCB would forgo at least one practice session on the eve of a crucial IPL Eliminator. The report suggests that the security threat might be the missing piece of the puzzle.
"Virat Kohli learned about the arrests after arriving in Ahmedabad. He is a national treasure, and his security is our utmost priority," said Vijay Singha Jwala, a police officer.
"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."
Security around RCB's team hotel became extremely tight. A dedicated entry point was created solely for RCB players, inaccessible to any other guests. Even media personnel with official IPL accreditation were denied entry to the hotel premises.
The RR team received a high-security escort to the stadium. Their team bus was accompanied by three police convoys, highlighting the heightened security measures. Captain Sanju Samson arrived later than expected, and some key players, including Ravichandran Ashwin, Riyan Parag, and Yuzvendra Chahal, opted to stay at the hotel instead of attending the practice session. Those RR players who did attend the practice were under close watch by a heavy security presence, with police patrolling the entire ground. Due to these heightened security concerns, both the RCB and RR team management decided to cancel the pre-match press conference, a highly unusual move before a crucial IPL knockout match.
Another report refutes any security threat to Kohli
Later, Sports Tak learnt that there was no such threat to Kohli and the reason why RCB cancelled their practice session in Ahmedabad was due to heat. GCA had given the option to change the practice time but they denied.
“RCB changed the time as initially it was for 2-5 they asked for 4-6. We Said till 6:30 flood light are available that is permissible that is not a issue but the temperature was around 45 degree celcius and they decided not to do the practice just for the sake of the players so that there will be no health issues. There was no issue related to any security threat,” a sourcy privy to the development told Sports Tak.
Rajasthan Royals' recent slump
The road to the Eliminator wasn't smooth for the Rajasthan Royals. After a strong performance throughout most of the league stage, they hit a rough patch, losing four consecutive matches. This unfortunate streak dashed their hopes of finishing in the top two. Even a washout in their final league game against KKR couldn't salvage their position, allowing the Sunrisers Hyderabad to snatch the crucial second spot.
Royal Challengers Bangalore's Rise from the Ashes
On the other hand, RCB defied expectations with a dramatic turnaround to storm into the IPL 2024 playoffs. They got off to a shaky start, but managed to pull off an incredible comeback. After winning just one match in the first eight games, RCB won a staggering six matches in a row, and not just wins, but convincing victories with healthy margins. This remarkable winning streak propelled them back into playoff contention. The icing on the cake came in their final league match where they defeated the mighty Chennai Super Kings, the five-time champions. This win not only secured their playoff berth but also knocked CSK out of the tournament in a major upset.
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