Virat Kohli’s playoff jitters resurface with soft dismissal outside off

Royal Challengers Bengaluru stormed into the final of IPL 2025 with a dominant eight-wicket triumph over Punjab Kings in Qualifier 1 at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Stadium in Mullanpur on Thursday. It was a resounding all-round performance by the Bengaluru outfit, who outclassed the hosts in every department to seal a one-sided win and book their place in the title clash.

After winning the toss, RCB skipper Rajat Patidar made the strategic decision to field first, a move that paid off almost instantly. His pace battery came out firing on all cylinders, dismantling the Punjab Kings batting unit with unrelenting accuracy and aggression. The Kings never found their footing and were bundled out for a paltry 101 in just 14.1 overs, a total that now ranks among the lowest in IPL playoff history.

Punjab’s inability to adapt to the surface proved costly, with their top order collapsing inside the powerplay. Marcus Stoinis, with a 26-run cameo, was the only batter to offer any resistance. RCB’s bowling unit was clinical, led by young leg-spinner Suyash Sharma who returned impressive figures of 3/17. He was ably supported by Josh Hazlewood (3/21), Yash Dayal (2/26), and Bhuvneshwar Kumar (1/17), who all chipped in to reduce Punjab to 50 for 5 by the seventh over.

Chasing a modest target of 102, RCB started confidently. However, Virat Kohli’s struggles against deliveries outside off-stump resurfaced. The former captain fell for 12 off 12 balls, caught behind while trying to flirt with a Kyle Jamieson delivery that held its line just outside the fifth stump. The dismissal echoed Kohli’s well-documented vulnerability, a weakness repeatedly exposed during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024–25, where he was dismissed nine times playing outside the off-stump line. Interestingly, Jamieson had also dismissed Kohli in the World Test Championship final in 2021.

Kohli’s underwhelming record in IPL playoffs continued. In 15 appearances in knockout matches, the veteran has managed 341 runs at an average of 26.23, with only two fifties to his name.

Despite Kohli’s early exit, RCB made light work of the chase. Wicketkeeper-batter Phil Salt anchored the innings with a blistering 56 off just 27 deliveries, guiding his team home in just 10 overs. The convincing win now propels Royal Challengers Bengaluru into their first IPL final since 2016, as they aim to end their long-standing title drought.

This article first appeared on Mid Day