RCB vs KKR IPL 2024: 'Virat Kohli will be fired up just looking at Kolkata dugout,' claims former India pacer

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RCB vs KKR IPL 2024: There is never a dull moment whenever Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) collides with Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the Indian Premier League and excitement ahead of the RCB vs KKR encounter in IPL 2024 on Friday (March 29) is reaching a crescendo as fierce competitors Virat Kohli and Gautam Gambhir will be up against each other.

Both Kohli and Gambhir have a long history of on-and-off-field faceoffs in the past, adding another layer to this intense rivalry. While Gambhir may no longer be playing cricket his verbal spat with Kohli during the IPL 2023 after the match between RCB and Lucknow Super Giants grabbed a lot of attention.

Gambhir, the mentor of LSG in the last season, was spotted in an animated conversation with Kohli, who had an on-field tiff with LSG pacer Naveen-ul-Haq during the IPL game.

Before the match between RCB and KKR, who are being mentored by their former captain Gambhir, cricket enthusiasts expect another intense clash because Kohli and Gambhir are on opposite sides of the dugout.

Varun Aaron, a former Indian cricketer, emphasised Kohli's readiness for the upcoming clash match, stating that just a glance at the KKR dugout would ignite Kohli's competitive spirit.

Speaking on Star Sports' Cricket Live, Aaron anticipated a charged atmosphere, particularly with Gautam Gambhir positioned near the RCB dugout. He noted Kohli's penchant for intensity and predicted that a mere look towards KKR's side would fuel his determination.

"I'm looking forward to the match-up outside the boundary line. Gautam Gambhir is going to be at the boundary line right beside the RCB dugout, don't know what's going to happen there, I think, you know how Virat is, he likes to have some fire all the time, and if he just looks at the KKR dugout, he's just going to be fired up," Aaron said.

Australia cricketer Steve Smith echoed the anticipation for the RCB vs KKR encounter, highlighting the continued rivalry between the teams. Reflecting on Kohli's stellar performance in the previous game, Smith expressed eagerness for the forthcoming contest.

"Yeah, that's a nice battle to look for. The rivalry is not going to be any different. I'm looking forward to it. Virat was outstanding last game, he showed some real ominous signs, and I'm looking forward to that contest tomorrow," Smith said on Star Sports.

In another segment of the show, Smith praised Riyan Parag's maturity during his recent innings. Commending Parag's approach in stabilising the innings before accelerating towards the end, Smith highlighted the pivotal role played by Parag in steering his team to a competitive total.

Smith also lauded Nandre Burger's impactful bowling performance, particularly for his crucial wickets that halted Mitch Marsh's aggressive batting. Burger's pace and aggression set the stage for spinners to follow up and maintain pressure during the middle overs.