Virat Kohli knocks over the bails after RCB’s loss to RR in IPL 2024 Eliminator. He had done the same thing after India’s loss in World Cup 2023 at the same venue (IPL Photo/Screengrab)
The sight of a dejected Virat Kohli walking up to the pitch and knocking over the bails, mirroring his actions after India’s heart-breaking World Cup 2023 final loss to Australia at the same ground, brought back painful memories.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s impressive journey to the IPL 2024 playoffs was abruptly halted in Ahmedabad with a 4-wicket loss to Rajasthan Royals in the IPL 2024 Eliminator at the Narendra Modi Stadium. The RCB players’ disappointment was palpable, none more so than Virat Kohli. Despite a stellar performance with the bat, ending the IPL 2024 season with 741 runs, the IPL trophy remains elusive for the modern-day great.
Post-match, the sight of a dejected Kohli walking up to the pitch and knocking over the bails, mirroring his actions after India’s heart-breaking World Cup 2023 final loss to Australia at the same ground, brought back painful memories.
Virat Kohli dislodging bails in Ahmedabad…Pic 1: Eliminator vs RR (May 22)
Pic 2: World Cup final vs Australia (November 19)
Ek hi Kohli hai, kitni baar tootega. Two splendid tournaments with the bat but just couldn’t get his hands on the trophy. pic.twitter.com/4jmNIpp7aj
— Sahil Malhotra (@Sahil_Malhotra1) May 22, 2024
India went into the World Cup 2023 final as the overwhelming favourites. Still, Australia silenced the nation with some terrific clutch play to win their record-extending sixth World Cup title. After the end of that gut-wrenching loss, Kohli, who incidentally was the highest run-getter in the tournament with 765 runs in 11 matches, was seen walking up to the stumps and knocking over the bails. And he did that again for the second time at the same venue with another dream crushed.
Despite making it to the IPL playoffs/knockouts nine times and reaching the final three times, RCB has yet to clinch the IPL title. And for Virat Kohli, who has been part of the RCB setup right from the inception of the cash-rich league, the agonizing wait for the IPL silverware continues. His contemporaries – the great MS Dhoni and another modern-day fabulous Rohit Sharma – have five and six IPL titles, respectively, to their names, but Kohli’s IPL trophy cabinet is bare.
With the mega auction coming up later this year before IPL 2025, there is no doubt that Kohli will be RCB’s no.1 retention. However, he will know the time is now running out for him to fulfill his dream of an IPL title as RCB looks to rebuild the team. The 35-year-old will hope that the management can conjure up a winning team next year.
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