The hopes of fans witnessing Virat Kohli lifting the trophy were crashed again as Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) were eliminated from the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 following their defeat against Gujarat Titans (GT) in Match 70 at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium on Sunday.
Kohli put forth an exceptional effort to keep RCB in the lead against the defending champions. He delivered an outstanding performance, scoring a brilliant century, which was his second hundred of the 16th season. His remarkable innings helped RCB set a formidable total of 197 runs on the scoreboard, with the loss of just five wickets.
However, RCB’s bowling department faltered in their attempt to defend the total, primarily due to Shubman Gill’s outstanding century, which outshone Kohli’s unbeaten 101. GT successfully chased down the required target in 19.1 overs, only losing four wickets in the process.
As a result of RCB’s loss, Mumbai Indians (MI) became the fourth team to qualify for the playoffs, and RCB ended the season by settling at No. 6 in the points table. The Challengers witnessed impactful performances from skipper Faf du Plessis (730 runs), Kohli (639 runs), Glenn Maxwell (400 runs) with the bat and Mohammed Siraj (19 wickets) with the ball. However, they lacked significant support from other players in the team.
A couple of days after the exit of RCB from the cash-rich league’s ongoing season, Kohli shared his reaction and came up with a heartwarming social media post. The Delhi-born cricketer conveyed his appreciation for the unwavering support of the fans and expressed gratitude towards the coaches, team management, and teammates.
“A season which had it’s moments but unfortunately we fell short of the goal. Disappointed but we must hold our heads high. To our loyal supporters, grateful for backing us every step of the way,” said Kohli in a post on Twitter.
“A big thank you to the coaches, management and my teammates. We aim to be back stronger,” added Kohli.
A big thank you to the coaches, management and my teammates. We aim to be back stronger.
💪@RCBTweets— Virat Kohli (@imVkohli) May 23, 2023
