IPL 2021: RCB to don blue jersey vs KKR. Read on to know more

The second leg of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021 is being played at the United Arab Emirates after it was shifted out of India due to a breach in a bio-bubble during the second wave of the COVID-19. The Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) will resume their buoyant IPL campaign against the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) on September 20, 2021, at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium.

As the season starts, the Bangalore-based franchise will be donning a blue jersey in their match against KKR as a tribute to the frontline workers.

“Over the years, you have seen us wear a green jersey for a special environmental cause. But this year we will be sporting blue jerseys matching the colour of the PPE kits that the frontline warriors have been wearing throughout the pandemic,” RCB star batsman AB de Villiers said in a video message posted on their official website.

“This year, we at Royal Challengers Bangalore, are sporting a special blue jersey matching the colour of the PPE kits, on September 20 for our match against KKR as a tribute to all the frontline warriors leading the fight against the COVID pandemic,” RCB’s pacer bowler Navdeep Saini said.

This initiative was announced in May 2021 by captain Virat Kohli. In a video message, he had said that as a franchise, they have had focussed discussions on how they can help at the ground level and assist frontline workers in these dire times (COVID-19).

“RCB has identified key areas in which immediate help is required, in healthcare infrastructure related to oxygen support and will be making a financial contribution in this regard to support this work,” the captain added.

“Instead of our flagship Go Green match initiative this season, RCB is going to be sporting a special blue jersey in one of the upcoming matches with key messaging on our match kits to show solidarity and support to our frontline workers,” the right-handed batsman had said.

India’s COVID-19 tally had crossed the 20-lakh mark on August 7 last year, 30 lakh on August 23, 40 lakh on September 5 and 50 lakh on September 16. It went past 60 lakh on September 28, 70 lakh on October 11, crossed 80 lakh on October 29, 90 lakh on November 20 and surpassed the one-crore mark on December 19 last year.