Kohli falls victim to Omarzai’s brilliantly executed catch in IPL final

Azmatullah Omarzai pulled off a jaw-dropping catch to dismiss in-form Virat Kohli, leaving the stadium in stunned silence during summit clash between Punjab Kings and Royal Challengers Bengaluru in Ahmedabad on Tuesday.

Known for being one of the most coveted wickets in world cricket, Kohli’s departure for 43 off 35 balls was a pivotal moment in the IPL 2025 final. Omarzai’s exceptional athleticism turned what looked like a routine pull shot into a game-altering breakthrough. As the Afghan all-rounder completed the catch, the entire Narendra Modi Stadium fell into a deafening quiet.

Kohli, visibly frustrated with himself, vented his emotions by striking his pads with his bat, mirroring the frustration of his innings. The veteran batter struggled to rotate strike and found it difficult to pierce the gaps, an uncommon sight given his usual fluency.

The delivery appeared to grip slightly off the surface and rose more than expected, cramping him for room and leading to a mistimed pull that ended in Omarzai’s safe hands. The clip of Kohli’s emotional outburst post-dismissal quickly went viral on social media, resonating with fans who witnessed his uncharacteristic struggle in a high-stakes match.

Batting first in the final, Royal Challengers Bengaluru found it tough to build momentum. Despite a strong foundation laid by Kohli and Rajat Patidar, who contributed a brisk 26 off 16 balls, RCB failed to capitalise in the middle overs. Punjab Kings’ disciplined bowling effort ensured the scoring rate never truly took off. Eventually, RCB posted a modest total of 190 for 9 in their allotted 20 overs, considered slightly underwhelming given the batting-friendly conditions in Ahmedabad.

Among the bowlers, Arshdeep Singh delivered a standout performance, finishing with figures of 3 for 40, including a stellar final over in which he conceded just three runs while removing both Romario Shepherd and Krunal Pandya. His clinical death bowling helped peg RCB back just when they were looking to finish strong. Kyle Jamieson was also among the wickets with 3 for 48, while Yuzvendra Chahal provided vital control in the middle overs, returning with 1 for 37 in his full quota.

With their talisman back in the pavilion, RCB struggled to find a late surge, leaving them with a challenging task ahead in the second innings of the final.

This article first appeared on Mid Day