• Source:JND
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PBKS vs RCB IPL 2025 Qualifier 1: Royal Challengers Bengaluru star batter Virat Kohli is just two matches away from lifting his first IPL title as Royal Challengers Bengaluru will lock horns with Punjab Kings during the first Qualifier on Thursday. He is currently in sublime form as he scored 602 runs after playing in 13 matches at a staggering average of 60.20 and a brilliant strike rate of 147.91, which includes eight half-centuries under his kitty.

Irrespective of his sublime form, the Bengaluru-based franchise has a huge headache to deal with before the high-octane clash as Kohli hasn't performed well during the IPL playoffs. After playing in 15 IPL playoff matches, he has scored 341 runs at a below-par average of 26.23 and a poor strike rate of 121.78. H had smashed just two fifties, including one during the 2016 summit clash.

And that's why Virat Kohli will aim to put his best foot forward and help RCB end their nine-year drought of qualifying for the summit clash. He does have the ability to do so as he has performed well during the playoffs in the last few years.

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He ended his long drought of scoring more than 50 runs during a knockout match in the 2023 ODI World Cup, where he scored his 50th hundred during the semifinal against New Zealand. He also scored a gritty knock of 55 runs during the summit clash against Australia.

He also played a huge role in helping India win the 2024 T20 World Cup, where he was adjudged the Player of the Match award for scoring a match-winning knock of 76 runs of 59 balls during the summit clash against South Africa. During the Champions Trophy semifinal against Australia, he scored a match-winning knock of 84 runs of 98 balls and helped the Men in Blue chase down the target of 265 runs and helped the team win the match by four wickets.

Thus, the star batter has performed for the team whenever they needed him for the last two years and will try to repeat his heroics as the Rajat Patidar-led side qualified for the playoffs. The Bengaluru-based franchise would depend on Kohli's experience to qualify for the summit clash and inch closer to lifting their maiden title.