IPL Feature: Virat Kohli's lousy record in Qualifier 2 of IPL
The Royal Challengers Bangalore batter Virat Kohli has been one of the most consistent performers of the franchise in the Indian Premier League, However, the batter has carried a disappointing form in the playoffs over the years
Virat Kohli : disappointing form in the PlayoffsIt continued as he got dismissed early during the Qualifier 2 against Rajasthan Royals in Ahmedabad on Friday, 27th May 2022.
Virat Kohli has been part of 14 playoff matches in IPL history. In those 14 innings, he has scored 308 runs at an average of 25.66 and carried a strike rate of 120.31. The right-handed batter scored the highest score of unbeaten 70 only once in qualifier one against Chennai Super Kings in 2011. To date, Virat Kohli has played three matches in qualifier 2. He has not been able to play and deliver as per his potential in times of need for the team. Let's look at his performances and their impact on RCB's fate of reaching the finals.
8 (12) vs MI in 2011
In the second qualifier of IPL 2011, RCB had a face-off with Mumbai Indians. RCB posted a total of 185 for Mumbai Indians, 89 runs from the bat of power-hitter Chris Gayle while batting first. However, all the eyes were on Kohli, who took the field after the dismissal of Mayank Agarwal. Abu Nechim rolled fingers to bowl short of length, Virat all set for the pull shot, got inside edge onto the stumps leaving his wickets tattered as the batter departed for just eight runs. However, the bowlers pulled the game in favour of RCB, successfully defending the total to fly for the finals.
12 (9) vs CSK in 2015
Getting to the field as an opener and Chris Gayle got no change in Virat Kohli's fate of failing to score in the qualifier. He could fetch just 12 runs in 9 balls as Ashish Nehra trapped the batter for an innocuous ball on the hips, which Kohli picked and went straight to Mohit Sharma at short fine leg. They failed to defend, just able to post a total of 139, and CSK won by three wickets to reach the finals.
7 (8) vs RR in 2022
Virat Kohli was dismissed by Prasidh Krishna in the second over of the match when he got an outside edge of the length ball just outside the off stump, leading the ball to Sanju Samson behind the stumps. He got dismissed for seven off 8. This was the disappointing third performance in an IPL qualifier from the bat of star performer Virat Kohli.
Followed by a string of failures from fellow batters, the team lost the match, paving the way for RR towards the finals.