NEW DELHI: Ross Taylor, the former New Zealand skipper, opened up about his thoughts on Royal Challengers Bengaluru's historic IPL victory after 18 years. Having been associated with the franchise earlier in his career, Taylor admitted the win brought him immense joy.
Speaking to Sports Yaari exclusively, Taylor highlights Virat Kohli's loyalty, praising him for spending his entire career with RCB and finally achieving the success that fans and neutral observers alike would have hoped for.
"I was really, really happy. I think we got close when I was playing in 2009 and made a few finals. But for them to finally get across the line, they've got some very passionate fans," he said. "And also for Virat [Kohli] as well. For him to stay loyal to RCB, play his whole career there, and finally be part of a title-winning team - most neutral fans would have been very happy with that. Winning is tough, and hopefully, they can aim for back-to-back titles now."
Reflecting on his own illustrious career, Taylor was asked to pick a defining moment. "Winning the World Cup and the inaugural Test Championship would have to be up there. But having played for 16-17 years, there are a lot of highlights and lowlights. I look back on it with fond memories," he said.
On upcoming Fab 4
When asked about his current Fab 4 of world cricket, Taylor remarked on the enduring influence of established legends. "There's still a Fab Four, and I'm sure there's another coming through. Once they've all hung up their boots, we'll come up with the next Fab Four," he noted.
Taylor also reflected on his stint in the ILT10 league. "It's been exciting to play. Sometimes, 20 overs can feel long when you get older, so 10 overs is even better. Coming full circle to play tennis ball cricket, like we did as kids, is a lot of fun. Seeing the excitement on the other players' faces makes it special to be part of.”
