IPL set for an emotional resumption in Bengaluru

Nearly an hour and a half into RCB's training session at the Chinnaswamy stadium on Friday, Virat Kohli joined the batting group for a hit. A couple of crisp straight drives and pull shots later, there was a brief break in play. He wasn't happy. His arrival to the practice pitch, even in an empty stadium, coincided with the sound system blaring the RCB team song. He conveyed his annoyance to enough people around him to shut it down and restore silence, interspersed with the sound of the ball hitting the bat and the ambient conversations.

He will not have such luck or command over the proceedings come Saturday, when the IPL resumes after an eight-day break at a venue where the partisan crowd will come armed with heightened vigour. In this week of non-action,