Virat Kohli’s 18-Year IPL Chase: Will This Be the One?

For Kohli, every year feels like “this is the year”—until it isn’t.

For 18 years, Virat Kohli has been the face, heart, and sometimes the single reason Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) fans still have hope. He wears the number 18, he’s played 18 seasons, and now, in 2025, the big question remains—will this be the year his jersey number finally translates into an IPL trophy? Or will it be another year of Ee Saala Cup Nahi?

Let’s be clear: Kohli is not the problem. The man has done everything humanly possible. He’s won the Orange Cap (2016), played ridiculous knocks that made opposition bowlers question their career choices, and has been the highest scorer in IPL history. Yet, RCB’s trophy cabinet is emptier than a Bangalore pub at 11:30 PM.

The Great RCB Tragedy

RCB has reached the finals three times—in 2009, 2011, and 2016—and each time, they found a way to self-destruct spectacularly.

• 2009: They made it to the final, only to lose to Deccan Chargers, a team that no longer exists.

• 2011: Chennai Super Kings (CSK) crushed their dreams because that’s what MS Dhoni does for a living.

• 2016: This one hurt the most. Kohli was in God-mode, scoring 973 runs in a single season, yet RCB still managed to lose to Sunrisers Hyderabad. Imagine scoring almost 1,000 runs in a season and still not lifting the trophy—it’s like scoring 99% in exams and still not getting a college seat.

The Curse of RCB

Every year, the franchise assembles a squad that looks like it could take over world cricket. Every year, something inexplicably goes wrong. Either the bowling lineup leaks runs like a broken pipeline, or their batting collapses at the worst possible time. Some believe it’s bad luck, while others think it’s just RCB being RCB.

And then there’s the legendary Kohli-AB de Villiers partnership, which gave us some of the most unforgettable IPL moments—except the one where they actually won the title.

2025: The Year of 18?

With Kohli’s 18-year IPL journey coming full circle, will fate finally hand him the trophy? Or will he have to settle for another season of “Maybe next year”?

If cricket had a scriptwriter, they’d know it’s time for a happy ending. The man has carried RCB on his back for nearly two decades. He’s played alongside legends, survived countless memes, and given his fans heartbreak after heartbreak. If number 18 doesn’t bring him luck this time, we might need to check if RCB is actually cursed.

Either way, Kohli will keep playing his heart out. Because if there’s one thing that’s guaranteed—apart from RCB’s unpredictability—it’s that Virat Kohli will give it everything he has. Whether the IPL trophy finally lands in his hands or remains a distant dream, one thing is for sure: RCB fans are in for another rollercoaster ride.

(The author is a journalist based in Mumbai. Views personal.)