When it comes to the Eliminator fixtures in IPL, the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) have had a mixed bag. The team won its respective matches in 2015, and 2022 editions, while they lost in 2020 & 2021. But throughout those matches, there was a common thread. Star batsman and ex-skipper Virat Kohli’s failure.
Virat Kohli’s Record in IPL Eliminators
It is true that RCB is not just dependent on Virat Kohli to get runs, but it is also a fact, that he has always been their most important batsmen across seasons. In the 2015 IPL Eliminator vs Rajasthan Royals, he scored 12 from 18, and yet RCB went on to win the match.
Come 2020, the side suffered a loss to Sunrisers Hyderabad, by six wickets, and Virat Kohli scored six from seven deliveries. In 2021, RCB faced-off against Kolkata Knight Riders, that they lost, and Kohli could only score 39 from 33. KKR won the match by four wickets.
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Lastly, in 2022, RCB went up against Lucknow Super Giants in the IPL Eliminator, and Kohli scored 25 from 24. The Men in Red won the match by 14 runs, but the legendary batsman was ineffective in the high-pressure match. In short, in all the Eliminators so far, he has scored 82 runs at an average of 20.5, and a strike-rate of 100.
Virat Kohli in IPL 2024
But the caliber Virat Kohli has, it is only a given, that he is close to improving his questionable record in the playoff match. Not just that, he has been in sensational form this year, having scored 708 runs in 14 matches, at an average of 64, and a strike-rate of 155. On Wednesday, when RCB takes on RR in the Eliminator in Ahmedabad, the opposition bowlers will have to be mighty careful, because King Kohli will be hungry for runs, as usual.
