IPL 2020 — Virat Kohli’s warning: We are not here to have fun, roam around Dubai

'Eventually, we are here because we have the opportunity to play. We are not here to have fun, roam around and say ‘Oh I want to hang around in Dubai’ and all that. That’s not the time we're living in,' RCB captain Virat Kohli said ahead of IPL 2020

Dubai: Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) captain Virat Kohli has issued a stern warning to his teammates ahead of the 13th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL 2020) in the UAE.

With all eight teams staying in bio-bubbles due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, Kohli urged everyone to respect all the protocols put in place by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).

After the players arrived in the UAE, all had to undergo COVID-19 tests and were quarantined for six days in their respective hotel rooms. Also, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) were hit by COVID positive cases with 13 persons infected including two players.

In a video posted on RCB’s official Twitter handle, Kohli spoke on the importance of respecting the bio-bubbles.

“Eventually, we are here because we have the opportunity to play. We are not here to have fun, roam around and say ‘Oh I want to hang around in Dubai’ and all that. That’s not the time we're living in,” Kohli said.

‘We have to accept the phase that we're going through and understand the privilege we have in front of us ... just to be a part of the IPL. Everyone should accept that and not have desires that make them behave in a manner the situation doesn't require them to,” he added.

IPL will be played from September 19 to November 10 in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah.