Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) debutant left-arm spinner Mayank Dagar made his first appearance for the franchise in the IPL 2024 opening match against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) at Chepauk on Friday, March 22.
Dagar was handed his cap by veteran batsman Virat Kohli, which was an emotional moment for the spinner as he regarded Kohli as his idol. He shared a video on Instagram capturing the moment Kohli presented him with the cap.
Mayank Dagar captioned the video with the following words:
“This moment will always be special for me. Getting my debut cap 163 from my idol. Looking forward to win matches for my team this season”
You can watch the video here:
View this post on Instagram
Mayank Dagar bowled only two overs, conceding six runs without taking any wickets. Despite RCB setting a target of 174, they couldn’t defend it, leading to the hosts securing a comfortable six-wicket victory.
Virat Kohli’s communication to Mayank Dagar
Virat Kohli, renowned for his emotional demeanour, delivered an encouraging pep talk to Dagar, expressing his belief in the youngster’s potential and advising him to relish his cricketing journey.
In the RCB video, Kohli also emphasized the unwavering support of the loyal RCB fans and assured Dagar that they would rally behind him as long as he gave his best effort. Here are Kohli’s words in the RCB video:
“I know how badly you wanted to play for this team. Have a lot of fun. It is a great place to play your cricket. You will see the passion of the fans if you put your hundred percent in. All the best.”
Dagar lacked substantial IPL exposure, featuring in only three matches for SunRisers Hyderabad last season, where he managed to secure just one wicket. Despite his limited experience, RCB has shown confidence in him by including him in their squad during the IPL 2024 trade window, positioning him as one of their key spinners.
Get the latest cricket news here, like us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter and Instagram for more such updates.