RCB's 'Raksha Bandhan' message featuring Virat Kohli and Shreyanka Patil goes viral

As India celebrates the auspicious occasion of Raksha Bandhan on Monday, August 19, the nation is covered in festivity, with sibling affection and cultural admiration being shared across social media. In the middle of all this celebration, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) wished everyone on Rakhi with a post featuring cricket stars Virat Kohli and Shreyanka Patil.

Raksha Bandhan, a festival deeply rooted in Indian tradition, symbolizes the bond of protection between siblings. Sisters tie a 'Rakhi'—a sacred thread—on their brother's wrists, and in return, brothers vow to protect their sisters. This year, RCB creatively linked this tradition to cricket. RCB's official social media account shared a collage of images featuring Kohli and  Patil.

"Protect your sisters the way our superstars protect their bats. Close to your heart, cozy in your hug," the franchise captioned their post.

Notably, the post shows Kohli tucking his bat inside his jersey to protect it from rain, while Patil was seen embracing her bat close to her heart. The imagery draws a difference between the cricketers' care for their equipment and the protective bond celebrated during Raksha Bandhan. 

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Virat Kohli to not feature in Duleep Trophy

Meanwhile, the 35-year-old batter is currently in London along with his family. Many reports circulated about his possible participation in the upcoming Duleep Trophy, but BCCI secretary Jay Shah confirmed that Virat Kohli will not feature in the tournament. The main reason for his omission is the Bangladesh Test series which is an important assignment for the Indian team.

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“If you look Duleep Trophy squad, apart from Rohit and Virat rest are going to play. It's because of the harsh steps I have taken, Shreyas Iyer and Ishan Kishan are playing Duleep Trophy,” Shah told Times of India (TOI).

On the other hand, Patil is currently recovering from a finger injury sustained during the Women's Asia Cup 2024 in Sri Lanka.