Beginning of The End

XIX

"How does it feel to be back with the team Virat?"

"It's always a good feeling to be back with them. I don't think I've ever been away from the team for this long. It did feel a little odd, but I'm glad I'm back." Virat answered with an easy grin on his face, AB and Mike on either side of him.

"Returning after a break, you've had a different role in the Indian team. Didn't you want to play for some other team? Try something new in the IPL as well." Another reporter asked him, and Virat just frowned at the question, mildly amused.

"I think I've said it many times before- playing for any other team has never been a thought for me. I don't know what people think, but loyalty matters to me the most, and I'll continue to play for this franchise until the last day I play the IPL. We've been together since 2008, and thankfully the management is not tired of me yet. So yeah, that's a good thing."

A roar of laughter rose through the room as he finished, and he could hear their coach Mike snort while AB was already shaking his head.

The reporters seemed to be a little surprised by the frank nature of his words. And their surprise could be justified this time around because during the England tour they had been instructed strictly that Virat Kohli would not be involved in any sort of press interactions.

Even after being awarded the player of the series award, it was not the man himself but the vice-captain who had attended the post-match conference. After receiving such instructions just a few weeks ago, the reporters were genuinely surprised by how frank Virat sounded.

"How do you feel about his return to the RCB camp, AB?"

Virat also turned to look at him, wanting to see his reaction as he answered the question and, he shook his head as AB let out a breathy sort of a chuckle. "When he left, I had told him clearly that he'd better be back soon because I can't do this without him. He took his time, but I'm glad he's found his way back."

Back home. Virat mouthed to him as the manager called for the next question, and AB's lips stretched up in a wide grin.

"And he's back to being the captain once again. Should we expect some cold shoulders in the changing room now?"

AB looked at the reporter quizzically before turning towards their coach with a raised eyebrow, "Should we, Mike? I mean, I obviously can't contain my rage on the matter." Virat and Mike burst out laughing at his mocking words, and the reporters were left with puzzled smiles on their faces.

"Of course not. This changes nothing. The way people are expecting the atmosphere in the team to be, it's nothing like that. The team is ecstatic to have him back and in such form." AB cleared his throat, his expression much serious than a few seconds ago as he answered the question.

"Virat, we haven't seen Anushka-"

"No personal questions, please." Mike was quick to shut the reporter down before the manager could and threw him a warning glance.

"Sir, what are your plans for the upcoming series?" Virat frowned in confusion, not understanding what the question was supposed to mean. "I'm sorry I didn't quite get you," Virat said with an apologetic tone, and the manager asked the reporter to repeat the question.

"The Indian team is scheduled to play a five-match test series against New Zealand after this. You have recently joined the team for limited-overs, but your health has not been the finest, as we all saw in the last series. Do you think you can handle captaining RCB during the IPL and the national team once again?"