The big day is almost here. Royal Challengers Bengaluru will take on Punjab Kings in the IPL 2025 final on June 3 at the massive Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
One player everyone will be watching closely is Virat Kohli. He has been with RCB since the beginning and this will be his fourth time playing in an IPL final. But he is yet to lift the trophy.
So far, Kohli’s journey in IPL finals has had more heartbreak than glory. Let’s look back at how he’s done in each of his past finals.
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How has Virat Kohli performed in IPL finals?
IPL 2009 Final:
Back in 2009, a 20-year-old Kohli was still new to the big stage. RCB made it to the final that year against Deccan Chargers.
Chasing a modest 143, Kohli came in late at number six and could only score 7 runs. RCB fell short by just 6 runs. It was a low-scoring thriller.
IPL 2011 final:
In 2011, Kohli had grown into a stronger batter and was batting at number three, a role that suits him best.
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RCB were chasing a huge total of 206 against Chennai Super Kings. Kohli made 35 runs off 32 balls but his innings lacked momentum. He was dismissed by Suresh Raina and RCB couldn’t keep up with the scoring rate.
IPL 2016 final:
Kohli had an unbelievable season in 2016 as he scored over 900 runs. RCB reached the final and looked set for glory while chasing 209 against Sunrisers Hyderabad.
Kohli looked good again, scoring 54 runs off 35 balls and RCB were cruising at one point. But once he got out, the team collapsed and lost yet again. Kohli’s knock was solid, but it wasn’t enough to carry RCB all the way.
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Virat Kohli's IPL final performances at a glance
| Year | Opponent | Score | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Deccan Chargers | 7 (8 balls) | Lost by 6 runs |
| 2011 | Chennai Super Kings | 35 (32 balls) | Lost by 58 runs |
| 2016 | Sunrisers Hyderabad | 54 (35 balls) | Lost by 8 runs |
Kohli is now set to play his fourth IPL final, and the stakes are huge. Kohli has done his part throughout IPL 2025 and looked in solid form. The big question is- can he finally break the final curse and help RCB lift the trophy?