Royal Challengers Bangalore continues support to fight COVID-19

Bengaluru, 18th September 2021: Royal Challengers Bangalore will don the Blue Jersey to pay tribute to the frontline warriors who have spent the majority of the last 18 months in PPE kits, in our opening match of the second leg of the VIVO IPL 2021 against Kolkata Knight Riders on 20th September 2021, at Abu Dhabi. RCB had announced the Blue Jersey Match in May this year, instead of its flagship ‘Go Green’ initiative, before the pandemic put a pause to the tournament. The team keeps its promise with its fans and will don the Blue Jersey, which was unveiled by Captain Virat Kohli and Chairman, RCB, Prathmesh Mishra at a virtual press conference on Saturday.

Since the start of the pandemic last year, RCB’s parent company, Diageo India has committed 75 Crores INR towards the programme to support the Indian hospitality sector and Royal Challengers Bangalore has provided for about 100 units of oxygen concentrators to extend support in Bangalore, and other cities.

The special edition “Blue Jerseys”, that will feature messages to spread awareness in the battle against Covid, will be signed and auctioned to raise funds for the deployment of vaccines in India.

Fankind, an online celebrity fundraising platform, founded by Anshula Kapoor, will be organizing the auction which will go live on the Fankind website. The auction period which begins on 20th September will last till 2nd October 2021 and will be open to all fans to bid for up to 11 sets of “2 player Jerseys”. A closed bidding process will take place live on zoom for certain player sets on 4th October 2021. All proceeds from the auction will be directly handed over by Fankind to GiveIndia for deployment towards helping accelerate the vaccination drive for underprivileged communities.

All details and T&C’s can be found on the Fankind.org/rcb

Prathmesh Mishra, Chairman, Royal Challengers Bangalore, said, “Royal Challengers Bangalore intends to stay true to the commitment to honour the frontline warriors. The challenges they face in ensuring safety during this health crisis deserves a lot of credit. They are the real heroes playing bold in life. We want to deliver as planned, in whatever little way we can. We are proud to have partnered with Fankind
and GiveIndia to continue with our efforts to provide support to the vaccination efforts in Bangalore and other cities of the country. We wish for everyone to be safe and healthy.”

Virat Kohli, Captain, Royal Challengers Bangalore, said, “India has been battling Covid-19 on a war footing. While vaccination has being going on at a great pace, the frontline workers are the ones bearing the burden of helping us move past this pandemic. We have great respect and admiration for these workers and would like to assist these heroes in our own little way to spread awareness. We are all in this fight together and we need to work together to help humanity move forward.”