There wasn't any fairytale. Again the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) fell so far after getting so near as it was a heartbreak for Virat Kohli's men in the 2021 edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) on Monday in the Eliminator in Sharjah as Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) knocked them out and advance to Qualifier 2 to play the Delhi Capitals.
It was not just RCB's last game in the IPL 2021, but it was also Virat Kohli's final game in the IPL as the captain of the franchise having announced the same before the start of the second leg.
Kohli led RCB in 140 games since 2011 and took over as the skipper full time only in 2013 and won 64 games with a winning percentage of 48. Kohli failed to win a title, however, he gave his absolute best for the franchise over the past decade as a player, icon and leader of the franchise. His best year came in 2016 when he amassed 973 runs in the season and took RCB to an IPL final, which they lost to the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) by just eight runs.
Kohli had said that with the big auction coming next year the franchise will go through the transition phase and as part of workload management, this was the right time to step down.
Asked about the same at the post-match presentation, Kohli said, "I have tried my best to create a culture here where youngsters could come in and play with freedom and belief. It is something I have done with India as well. I have given my best. I don't know how the response has been, but I have given 120 percent to this franchise every time, which is something I will now do as a player. It is a great time to regroup and restructure for the next three years with people who will take this ahead."
Kohli reiterated that he may have stepped down as captain, he will continue to be an RCB player till his last game in the IPL. "Yes definitely [I will continue to play for RCB], I don't see myself playing anywhere else. Loyalty matters more to me than worldly pleasures. I would be in the RCB till the last day I play in the IPL."
