Cricket Editorial Indian Cricket IPL IPL 2024

Kohli’s best not enough to lift RCB team less than the sum of its parts

May 23, 2024
Boria Majumdar
Virat Kohli’s brilliance was not enough for RCB (Image: IPL)

He made 741 runs at a strike-rate of nearly 155. Add at least 150 runs saved on the field, and some incredible athleticism which kept Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the hunt after they had lost seven of their first eight matches. And an inspiration off the field. Virat Kohli did everything humanly possible to win it for RCB. And yet, he ended up on the losing side in IPL 2024. The wait continues, and sport, yet again, is cruel. Real, not reel. While Kohli can be proud of what he did and what he displayed, the truth is his teammates did not deserve to win. They let him and the team down, and that’s why the fairytale was cut short despite some great acts of individual brilliance. 

Take that moment of the game on Wednesday night. Rajasthan Royals were in control, and Dhruv Jurel and Riyan Parag had started to dictate terms. Parag played a pull shot which was at least 20 metres to Kohli’s left. He sprinted at jet speed, picked it up and, despite being off balance, managed to land the throw almost on target. It was enough for Cameron Green to run Jurel out, and all of a sudden, RCB were back in the game. That moment of individual brilliance summed up Kohli’s campaign. When RCB needed him the most, he rose like the proverbial phoenix. Kohli boosted his strike-rate and batted like a genius. And on the field, he was an example for every cricketer. He chased every ball as if his life depended on it. That’s what separates the best from the rest. And yet, he is out of this IPL. His team, too – 17 seasons and no title. 

 

Let’s face the brutal truth. Players like Glenn Maxwell are overrated in the IPL. In 12 seasons in the league, he has crossed 400 runs three times. This year, he averaged 5.78 from nine innings. FIVE. And yet, teams go for him based on reputation. Maxwell is one of the reasons why RCB did not go the distance, and he needs to take some accountability. 

Not just Maxwell. That there was little support for Kohli from most of his teammates is the truth. Green did come to the party late in the day, and Faf du Plessis was blow-hot-blow cold right through the tournament. On the bowling side, Mohammed Siraj is a huge worry for India. Despite the two late wickets of Parag and Shimron Hetmyer, he hasn’t looked the leader we want him to be. On a night that really mattered, he was very average for most part. 

We say cricket is the most individualistic of all team sports. And yet, it is about the team. Always is, and will be. Unless the collective backs you, there is no win at the end of the day. Rajasthan have not had a real star all through the tournament. Almost everyone chipped in. Even last night, it was Yashasvi Jaiswal, Riyan Parag, Rovman Powell, Tom Kohler-Cadmore and Sanju Samson, who all played a part. That was what outdid Kohli, who despite being superhuman, did not end up on the winning side. For RCB, the mega auction in 2025 will be a huge introspection. Big buys like Maxwell need to be avoided, for they are always the reason why the team falters when it matters. 

To sum up, I have to say my heart goes out to all the RCB fans. They have been stellar right through. When the team was down and out, they were there for the boys. And when the resurgence happened, they raised the pitch to a level the IPL hadn’t seen before. Fandom of a kind RCB will forever be proud of, and that’s the strength of the franchise. But no trophy in 17 seasons will haunt them, and more so with Kohli in the line-up and doing all that he possibly can. They need some answers, but at the moment it is too raw. Let the wounds heal as Kohli recalibrates and refocuses on a much bigger task. Let’s hope the story is very different with India in the ICC T20 World Cup.