Cricket Superstar Virat Kohli’s Rollercoaster Ride For A Belated Indian Premier League Title

Fans at a febrile M Chinnaswamy Stadium were already making plenty of noise as they settled into their seats.

They were readying themselves for their hero to take strike after Royal Bangalore Challengers were sent into bat by league leaders Rajasthan Royals in a crux match in the Indian Premier League.

Virat Kohli, as stand-in skipper, was feeling upbeat. Even though he’s had to endure criticisms of a tardy strike-rate, flak he’s used to being cricket’s undisputed biggest star for a decade, Kohli has been in the thick of the runs this tournament after a couple of lean years.

The 34-year-old was back in his favored captaincy position taking over from an ailed Faf du Plessis in their previous game against Punjab Kings having been told by the RCB hierarchy that he “might have to captain a couple of games”.

As he showed numerously over the years – for both RCB and India – Kohli enjoys the responsibility on his shoulders and he promptly scored a half-century in the 24-run victory over Punjab even though he was again scolded for tepid scoring.

“Nothing I’m not used to,” Kohli said at the toss ahead of the match against Rajasthan, referring to the leadership reins but he could have also been answering a question about criticisms lobbed at him.

It all pointed to Kohli rewinding the clock with his eager fans hoping perhaps on this sunny Sunday afternoon fixture that the RCB talisman could recapture his magic from the 2016 IPL campaign – the greatest compiled season in the tournament’s history.

As Kohli waited for Rajasthan quick Trent Boult to start the innings, giddy fans had already dreamt of the possibilities as they waited in anticipation. On the television broadcast, Harsha Bhogle – the doyen of Indian cricket commentators – made a rare stumble as Boult started his run-up by stating du Plessis was on strike.

Luckily the silver-tongued Bhogle quickly realized his gaffe and pointed out that Kohli was in-fact facing the first ball of the innings. Just in time because suddenly a manic Bhogle almost gasped in disbelief as Boult wrapped Kohli on the pads plumb lbw for a golden duck.

Kohli trudged off as his beloved supporters in the crowd were ashen-faced in a major anti-climax. It was a match-up Kohli had been confident of armed with the knowledge of having never fallen to veteran left-armer Boult.

But Kohli stumbled across his stumps as Boult bowled the perfect in-swinger to leave the opener suffering his seventh golden duck in his illustrious IPL career. It was a bitter disappointment for Kohli, but RCB held on to record an important seven-run victory to match Rajasthan’s 4-3 record at the midpoint mark of the two-month tournament.

It leaves them well poised to make a title run as RCB attempts to end a bewildering drought having never won a title despite being a glamor franchise and boasting Kohli since inception.

The lack of team success has long gnawed at Kohli, who has achieved almost everything else in his legendary career including helping transform India into a more formidable Test team largely through his force of will and professionalism marked by unwavering fitness levels.

Perhaps the disappointment of falling short has weighed him down previously, but Kohli has found contentment as his career reaches the pointy end. A family man – a doting dad and husband to Bollywood star Anushka Sharma – Kohli has seemingly struck a healthy balance in his hectic life, where everyone in his cricket-crazy country wants a piece of him.

He has spoken glowingly about the positive influences of his equally famous wife and fatherhood, which have given him greater perspective as it does every parent.

Perhaps cricket is not life or death for Kohli – one of the sport’s most passionate and compelling characters – anymore as he matures into his mid-30s, a transition age from youth to middle-age where one generally starts mellowing.

But the old firebrand has occasionally reared during a rollercoaster IPL season for Kohli, most notably when he passionately pounded his chest after reaching a half-century against Delhi Capitals.

It’s a welcome reminder that Kohli is still chasing an IPL title, which if successful would be a deserved triumph for the most important player in the history of the world’s richest cricket tournament.

Maybe he can rationalize things better these days, but don’t be fooled by the calmer façade as a determined Kohli attempts to end RCB’s curse and send their faithful into jubilation.

Something he couldn’t summon at the crease to start the game although Kohli had the last laugh as RCB hung on in a thriller.

Amid bedlam from the terraces, as his wife rose with glee amongst the revelry, Virat Kohli celebrated with numerous forceful fist pumps knowing he’s firmly in the hunt for an elusive prize.