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IPL Extras: Now, Virat Kohli has 3.1 million followers
Runs are not flowing from Virat Kohli's bat this Indian Premier League bat but his popularity continues to rise on social networking sites.
Kohli now has 3.1 million followers on Twitter while he breached the 10 million mark on Facebook last month. On the field, the Royal Challengers Bangalore captain has managed 144 runs from nine innings at an average of 18.
In fact, Kohli was the most popular player on Twitter in the third week of IPL, claims advertising company Ogilvy.
Defending champions Mumbai Indians too have not been performing to the expectations but they remained as the most searched team on social networking site last week.
Royal Challengers Bangalore’s stunning chase against Sunrisers Hyderabad at home was the most talked about match on Twitter last week followed by Mumbai Indians’ win over Royal Challengers Bangalore.
On the all time Twitter followers' chart, Kohli (3.08 million followers) is way ahead at the top, gaining 50,000 new followers in the third week of the IPL, the highest of anyone in the top 10.
Chennai Super Kings crossed a landmark by going past 650,000 followers on an all-time basis in Week 3, ending at 658,000.
Royal Challengers Bangalore breached the 450,000 mark this week to maintain their hold on the No.3 spot, slightly increasing the gap with Kolkata Knight Riders.
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It is really exciting to know a guy like Sehwag: Johnson
As the Kings XI Punjab juggernaut rolls on unabated in the ongoing IPL, pace spearhead Mitchell
Johnson expresses his double delight at not having the 'misfortune' of bowling to in-form Glenn Maxwell and getting to know Virender Sehwag the person from close quarters.
"When I joined Kings XI Punjab, I was very excited as I was looking forward to meeting Virender. He is a great guy to get along with. I have thoroughly enjoyed his company as he is incredibly funny. He is gelling well with the team and is also helping out the youngsters during training sessions. He has been communicating very well," Johnson said.
The 32-year-old had a decent outing so far with 10 scalps from nine games at a slightly higher economy rate of eight runs per over. But the big fast bowler isn't complaining as he doesn't have to bowl to his mate Maxwell.
"I wouldn't have liked to bowl to him in the current form that he is in. I would rather sit in the dug-out. It's incredible the manner he has been hitting in all parts of the ground.
"I remember during a (domestic) one day match at the MCG a couple of years back, he hit me for two huge sixes. I replied by hitting him on the body a couple of times," Johnson recollected a duel.
The veteran of 59 Tests, 136 ODIs and 30 T20 Internationals said that it was easier with George Bailey at the helm of affairs at Kings XI Punjab.
He did not forget to mention the contribution of coach Sanjay Bangar.
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Not taking Sunrisers lightly, says KXIP skipper Bailey
Kings XI Punjab skipper George Bailey cautioned his players against complacency as they prepare to lock horns with Sunrisers Hyderabad.
"I think they have got a very strong side, I don't think they have any obvious weakness. They got a strong batting line-up and they got one of the best bowling line-ups. It is going to be a tough contest against them," he said.
He was asked whether he felt KXIP can dominate the game against Hyderabad.
Bailey said his team continuously tries to improve and does not think it needs to do anything differently.
"Same things we worked on even after a win. Regardless of a win or loss we are always trying to get better. In the last game (KKR), we probably lost too many wickets in the middle when we tried to launch at the end we were 5 or 6 down when we would rather be 2-3 down, which made it harder to try and attack their best bowlers.
"To be honest, I don't think we bowled too badly. They batted well. I don't think we have to do anything too much different but we are always trying to get better," he said.
Asked if his team needed a wake-up call in the form of a defeat following successive victories, he said the team needs to perform well in every game.