RCB vs PBKS IPL 2025 Final: Worst Knock Of Virat Kohli! Netizens Slam Star Batter After Slow Innings In Summit Clash

Add as a preferred source on Google

RCB vs PBKS: In what was billed as one of the most anticipated IPL finals in recent years against Punjab Kings, Royal Challengers Bengaluru's star batter Virat Kohli's sluggish innings came under heavy criticism from fans at the Narendra Modi Stadium on Tuesday, 3rd June.

Batting first in the summit clash against Punjab Kings at the Narendra Modi Stadium, RCB needed their senior players to step up on the big stage. Kohli, who came out with the intent to anchor the innings, ended up scoring 43 runs off 35 balls before being dismissed by Azmatullah Omarzai in the 15th over.

Despite getting a decent start, Kohli struggled to accelerate during the middle overs, especially on a surface that had been favouring batters all season.

His strike rate of just over 122.86 was notably below par given the match situation and the venue's high-scoring history. With wickets in hand and the final five overs approaching, fans were hoping for a late onslaught. However, Kohli's failure to push the tempo during his stay left RCB playing catch-up.

What made matters worse was his dismissal - a mistimed pull that resulted in a top edge, brilliantly caught and bowled by Omarzai. The momentum shift was palpable, and Punjab capitalised on it by tightening the screws in the death overs.

Fans took to social media in droves, venting their frustration over what they perceived as a match-defining misstep by the veteran batter. For many, Kohli's innings epitomised RCB's recurring problem in crunch games - failing to seize the moment when it mattered most.

''Worst knock of Virat Kohli. SORRY CAN'T DEFEND THIS'', a fan wrote on X.

''This is disappoint Virat'', another user expressed.

''Virat Kohli fans were sad about his retirement from test cricket so he decided to play one last test knock for the fans'', a fan took a jibe at Kohli.

While Kohli has delivered countless times for RCB over the years, the criticism this time reflects the weight of expectation he carries. On a night when his team needed a statement innings, Kohli's inability to shift gears has left fans questioning his approach in big-match scenarios yet again. At the time of writing this article, RCB were batting at 173/6 after 18 overs of play.