IPL 2021: Virat Kohli Is Unfortunate To Not Finish On A High, Says Sunil Gavaskar

Sunil Gavaskar said Virat Kohli has been able to bring great value to RCB’s brand image despite not winning an IPL title with the Bangalore-based franchise. But, unfortunately, Virat Kohli’s captaincy reign came to a disappointing end on Monday.

Legendary India cricketer Sunil Gavaskar empathized with Virat Kohli after the Royal Challengers Bangalore captain ended his reign as the skipper of the franchise without being able to win a title. As a result, RCB lost an opportunity yet again to win an elusive IPL title as they were ousted in the Eliminator of IPL 2021 by Kolkata Knight Riders in Sharjah.

Sunil Gavaskar: Virat Kohli Finishing Without An IPL Title Is Disappointing But Everyone Don’t Have The Fortune To Finish On A High

Virat Kohli took over as RCB’s full-time captain in 2013 and led them in 140 matches, winning 66 and losing as many as 70. However, despite scoring plenty during his reign as captain, Virat Kohli was not able to win silverware for RCB. Virat Kohli took RCB to the playoffs four times, including the last two seasons, but they have faltered at the big stages.

Speaking to Star Sports on Monday, Sunil Gavaskar conceded that it is disappointing to see Virat Kohli finish without a title but that there is no doubt about his valuable contribution to the team.

“It certainly is (disappointing). Everybody wants to finish on a high. Individually, you want to finish on a high. But these things don’t always happen according to what you wish or your fans wish. Look at what happened to Sir Don Bradman.

“Just 4 runs are needed (for 100 average), he gets out for zero in his last innings. Look at what happened to Sachin Tendulkar. He would have wanted to finish with a hundred (in his last Test) but he got 79 in his 200th Test match,” Sunil Gavaskar said.

“The script is not always written that way. Not everybody has this great fortune of going on a high,” Sunil Gavaskar said.

The batting great added that Virat Kohli had added brand value to RCB that only very few other cricketers have been able to do for their respective franchises. Virat Kohli has scored 4674 runs at an average of 43.27 as captain with an impressive strike rate of 134.11.

With 38 fifties and 5 hundred to his name, Virat Kohli has had a pretty good run with the bat for RCB as captain since taking over the reins from Daniel Vettori. Virat Kohli is the highest run-scorer in IPL history, with 6283 runs in 207 matches averaging 37.39 with 5 tons and 42 fifties.

Sunil Gavaskar: Virat Kohli Was Committed To RCB

Virat Kohli’s RCB posted just 138/7 in 20 overs against KKR in the eliminator as they were humbled by Sunil Narine, who took 4 wickets, including that of the captain, AB de Villiers, and Glenn Maxwell. Riding on Harshal Patel and Yuzvendra Chahal’s heroics, RCB took the match to the final over, but it was not enough for them.

“But can one ever dispute what he has done for RCB? He has done magnificently. There was one year where he got 973 runs in T20s in the IPL. Fell short of 27 runs for 1000 runs.”

“That’s such a rarity. Look at what he has done for RCB. He has given RCB a kind of profile, a kind of brand recognition that very few cricketers have given to their franchise. Therefore, yes, it is sad to see him not winning. But the fact he is committed to RCB till he plays just tells you his commitment to RCB,” Gavaskar said.