'Stop calling me King...it's very embarrassing': Why did RCB legend Virat Kohli say this ahead of IPL 2024?

Former RCB captain Virat Kohli in this frame. (X)
Former RCB captain Virat Kohli in this frame. (X)

Highlights:

Virat Kohli requested fans to stop calling him ‘King’ during RCB Unbox event.

Virat Kohli is preparing for the upcoming IPL 2024.

Virat Kohli publicly requested fans to stop calling him ‘King’ during RCB's Unbox event at March 19. During Royal Challengers Bengaluru's grand unveiling of their new jersey at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru Kohli made this request.

Prior to the jersey unveiling, Kohli addressed the crowd, sharing his thoughts on returning to the cricket field after the recent birth of his second child, a baby boy named Akaay.

 

The electrifying atmosphere crackled as Kohli addressed the RCB crowd. Fans erupted in a frenzy of cheers and chants of ‘Kohli, Kohli’, their love and passion for the former captain.

 

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He reminded the enthusiastic RCB fans that the team, including himself had a tight schedule. Following the RCB Unbox event, they would be catching a charter flight to Chennai for their opening match of the season. The stage was set for a blockbuster clash as the defending champions Chennai Super Kings would be hosting RCB at the iconic Chepauk Stadium on Friday, March 22 in the IPL 2024 opener.

 

"We need to get to Chennai pretty quickly tonight. We have a charter flight, so we don't have much time," Virat said.

 

Kohli requests fans to stop calling him King

But the most surprising turn came when the star batter politely asked fans to refrain from using the moniker "King" to address him.

 

"Firstly, you need to stop calling me that word (King). Please call me Virat. Don't call me that word (king), I was just telling Faf du Plessis that I feel embarrassed every year when you call me that word. So just call me Virat, please, from now on, don't use that word, it's very embarrassing for me," Kohli further said.

 

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Notably, RCB have also changed their name to Royal Challengers Bengaluru ahead of IPL 2024. During their ‘RCB Unbox 2024’ event held at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru it was announced that the Virat Kohli and Faf Du Plessis-starred team will now be officially known as the ‘Royal Challengers Bengaluru’ reflecting the city's official name change. RCB also unveiled their brand new jerseys for the much-awaited IPL 2024 season during a star-studded RCB Unbox event. While the new red and dark blue jerseys generated a lot of buzz, reactions from cricket fans on social media have been mixed

 

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