"A little sledging match with him would be quite fun" - Nandre Burger on Virat Kohli ahead of RR vs RCB IPL 2024 Eliminator 

Rajasthan Royals (RR) left-arm pacer Nandre Burger has stated that a sledging match with Royal Challengers Bengaluru's (RCB) Virat Kohli would be entertaining. He also mentioned how the two were involved in staredowns during India's tour to South Africa in 2023-24.

In a video shared by the Rajasthan-based franchise on its social media handles, Donovan Ferreira asked Burger about a batter the left-arm pacer enjoyed sledging. While he suggested that there wasn't any particular batter he had fun sledging, he reckoned that a battle with Kohli could be thrilling.

Burger said:

"I don't think there's any specific batsman I enjoyed sledging. I just think I enjoy the competitive side of it. But I think during the India series, people thought myself and Virat had a little thing, which we actually didn't. There was no sledging happening there. It was just staredowns. But I think to get into a little sledging match with him would be quite fun. I think I'd enjoy it."

Reacting to his teammate's plans to sledge Kohli, Ferreira hilariously responded by saying:

"I don't know. Good luck."

RR and RCB will battle it out in the Eliminator for IPL 2024 at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Wednesday, May 22. It is worth mentioning that Virat Kohli has been in stellar form this season. With 708 runs from 14 innings at a strike rate of 155.60, he is currently the Orange Cap holder.

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"He could go well past his IPL 2016 performance" - Matthew Hayden on Virat Kohli's IPL 2024 form

Virat Kohli amassed 973 runs across 16 outings in IPL 2016, which remains the highest-ever runs scored by a batter in a single edition. Former Australian opener Matthew Hayden believes that the RCB star could break his own record this season.

Speaking to Star Sports, Hayden said:

"We are looking at Virat Kohli celebrating his second-best season thus far. He could go well past his IPL 2016 performance in the kind of form that he’s in. So more than anything, I just think it’s the energy and the love of the game, the passion, the commitment for it all—all of those describing words that you can glorify this great man with, whether it be on the field or with bat in hand."

Virat Kohli needs 266 runs to surpass his 2016 tally. The seasoned campaigner will get three matches to do so, assuming that RCB go all the way to the IPL 2024 final.