Virat Kohli had a “proper day at the pool” on Tuesday and he has let his fans know with a picture he posted on Instagram. A relaxed Kohli is seen lying on his back on a recliner as he cheerfully poses for the camera and gives out the victory sign. The Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) captain has his task cut out for the 13^th season of Indian Premier League (IPL) in terms to helping his team win their maiden IPL title, but his pool times are relaxing nevertheless as they come as a much-needed respite from the heat and humidity in the UAE, IPL’s host for the season. His RCB teammates Pawan Negi and Gurkeerat Singh Mann also enjoyed themselves by the pool. 

Actor Varun Dhawan was impressed with Kohli’s chiselled muscles and left a one-word comment: “Ripped.” 

Kohli is highest scorer in the history of IPL with 5412 runs. In 2016, he broke the record for most runs in a single IPL season by scoring 973 runs with four centuries – also an IPL record. 

However, his runs haven’t translated into title wins for his team RCB, who have made the finals thrice – 2009, 2011 and 2016 – but are yet to win the league. 

Kohli is optimistic nevertheless as he said that the current RCB squad is the “most balanced” that he has had since 2016 when the team last made the final. 

The addition of Aaron Finch, the No.3-ranked batsman on the ICC T20 rankings, comes as a boost to RCB as their top order had so far been heavily dependent on how Kohli and AB de Villiers fared. 

Promoted

Bowling has always been RCB’s weaker link and the likes of Umesh Yadav, Mohammad Siraj, Navdeep Saini and Yuzvendra Chahal would hope that a change of venues from the batting-friendly M Chinnaswamy Stadium to the UAE would give the bowlers some cushion against the power hitters of T20 cricket. 

RCB play their first match against SunRisers Hyderabad on September 21.