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Wednesday, February 12, 2025

Security Concerns for RCB Cancel Practice Session Before IPL

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In a concerning situation, the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) team cancelled their scheduled practice session ahead of the crucial IPL 2024 Eliminator against Rajasthan Royals due to security reasons. The team was set to practice at the Gujarat College ground in Ahmedabad on Tuesday to prepare for the knockout match, but they decided to call off the session without providing an official explanation.

In contrast, the Rajasthan Royals went ahead with their regular net practice at the same venue. However, both teams did not hold the customary pre-match press conference, which is unusual before a significant IPL knockout match.

The primary reason behind RCB’s decision to cancel their practice session and the absence of press conferences is believed to be a potential security threat to Indian cricket star Virat Kohli. According to reports from the Bengali daily Anandabazar Patrika, the Gujarat Police arrested four individuals from the Ahmedabad airport on Monday night on suspicion of terror-related activities.

The police reportedly recovered arms, suspicious videos, and text messages after searching the hideout of the four accused individuals. This information was shared with both RCB and Rajasthan Royals teams.

While Rajasthan Royals did not take any specific action, RCB informed the security personnel that they would not hold a practice session. According to the report, RCB did not provide any official reason for their sudden decision to cancel the practice session, even though both teams had ample time to rest on Sunday and Monday.

“Virat Kohli learned about the arrests after arriving in Ahmedabad. He is a national treasure, and his security is our utmost priority,” said Vijay Singha Jwala, a police officer. “RCB did not want to take a risk. They informed us that there would be no practice session. Rajasthan Royals were also informed about the development, but they had no problems going ahead with their practice.”

Heightened Security Measures

To ensure the safety of the teams, security was tightened outside RCB’s team hotel. A separate entry was established for all RCB team members, which was not accessible to any other guests or even IPL-accredited media personnel.

The report added that the Rajasthan Royals team arrived at the ground using a “green corridor” with three police convoys escorting their team bus. While Captain Sanju Samson arrived late, players like Ravichandran Ashwin, Riyan Parag, and Yuzvendra Chahal decided to skip the practice session and stay at the hotel. The players present during the training session were guarded by heavy security, with policemen patrolling the entire ground.

Due to the security concerns, the RCB and Rajasthan Royals team managements were forced to cancel the pre-match press conference.

Both teams have high stakes in the Eliminator match, with Rajasthan Royals missing a top-two finish after losing four consecutive matches, while RCB scripted a remarkable comeback, winning six matches in a row to secure a playoff spot and knock out the Chennai Super Kings.

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