In a significant turn of events, Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) made the decision to cancel their sole practice session ahead of the IPL (Indian Premier League) 2024 Eliminator against the Rajasthan Royals. Initially scheduled to take place at the Gujarat College Ground in Ahmedabad, the practice session was called off abruptly, with no official reasons provided for the cancellation.
Interestingly, the Bengali daily Anandabazar Patrika reported that the Gujarat police officials hinted at a potential security threat to star batsman Virat Kohli as the primary reason behind the cancellation. Responding swiftly to this tip, the Gujarat Police apprehended four suspects at Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport to preempt any potential terror activities.
Alongside the arrests, law enforcement recovered various arms, sensitive video footage, and communication devices from the hideout of the apprehended individuals. Following these developments, both Rajasthan Royals and RCB were notified about the possible threat ahead of their crucial Eliminator clash. While Rajasthan Royals proceeded with their practice session as planned, RCB opted to forego any outdoor activities.
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“Virat Kohli was informed about the arrests upon his arrival in Ahmedabad. He is a national asset, and ensuring his security is our top priority,” stated Vijay Singh Jwala, a police officer.
RCB had to cancel their only practice session before the eliminator because of a security threat to Virat Kohli 😨 pic.twitter.com/upQ1MY4F13
— Daksh (@82MCG_) May 22, 2024
“RCB chose not to take any chances. They informed us about the decision to cancel the practice session. Rajasthan Royals were also briefed about the situation, but they proceeded with their practice session without any hesitation,” Vijay Singh elaborated.
In response to the security concerns, stringent measures were implemented outside the hotel where the RCB team is lodged. A separate entry corridor was designated exclusively for the cricketers and management, with access restricted solely to the team members. Notably, even IPL-related media personnel were denied entry into this restricted zone.
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Furthermore, the report highlighted the elaborate security arrangements for the Rajasthan Royals team. They were escorted to the ground via a dedicated green corridor, with three police vehicles accompanying their team bus. During the practice session, the players were closely guarded by police officials, who conducted thorough patrols of the entire ground. Additionally, some RR players, including Ravichandran Ashwin, Riyan Parag, and Yuzvendra Chahal, opted to skip practice and remain at the hotel, while skipper Sanju Samson arrived late to the session.
