Virat Kohli Aims for Redemption in IPL Qualifier Against Gujarat Titans

As the IPL Qualifier approaches, all eyes are on Virat Kohli, the star of Royal Challengers Bengaluru, to see if he can break his playoff jinx against Gujarat Titans. With impressive stats against GT but a lackluster playoff record, Kohli's performance is crucial for RCB's hopes of reaching the finals. This article delves into his past playoff struggles, key match-ups, and the expectations surrounding his performance. Will Kohli rise to the occasion and deliver a masterclass that fans are eagerly waiting for?

By Narendra Chaudhary May 26, 2026, 12:50 IST

Virat Kohli's Anticipated Performance

All eyes are set on Virat Kohli, the iconic player of Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), as he prepares to showcase his skills against Gujarat Titans (GT) in the first Qualifier at Dharamsala on Tuesday.

This match is crucial for RCB, as a victory would secure them a direct entry into the finals. Kohli's performance will be pivotal, especially considering his impressive statistics against GT.

Kohli's Playoff Challenges

Kohli has amassed 460 runs in eight matches against GT, boasting an impressive average of 76.66 and a strike rate exceeding 152, which includes a century and four fifties. However, his playoff history raises concerns.

Despite his success in T20 World Cup knockout matches for India, Kohli's playoff record with RCB since 2009 is less than stellar. In 17 playoff matches, he has scored only 396 runs, averaging 26.4 with a strike rate of 121.1, and has managed just two fifties.

His recent scores in IPL playoff matches are as follows: 25, 7, 33, 12, and 43. The last time he reached a half-century in the IPL knockout stage was in 2016, when he scored 54 against Sunrisers Hyderabad in a losing effort.

Crucial Player Match-ups

Kohli's encounters with GT's formidable powerplay bowlers, Mohammed Siraj and Kagiso Rabada, will be critical. Siraj, who has spent years with RCB, understands Kohli's game well. In their limited encounters, Kohli has scored 18 runs off 12 balls against Siraj without being dismissed.

The competition with Rabada is more intense; Kohli has scored 111 runs off 79 balls against him in 16 innings, but Rabada has dismissed him five times, lowering Kohli's average to 22.2 against the South African bowler.

Throughout the tournament, Kohli has accumulated 557 runs in 14 innings, averaging 50.63 with a strike rate above 163, including a century and four fifties.

Will Kohli Shine?

The question remains: Can Kohli break free from his playoff struggles and maintain his dominance over GT to deliver the performance fans are eagerly anticipating?

Team Line-ups

Royal Challengers Bengaluru Squad

Venkatesh Iyer, Virat Kohli, Devdutt Padikkal, Rajat Patidar(c), Jitesh Sharma(w), Tim David, Romario Shepherd, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Suyash Sharma, Josh Hazlewood, Rasikh Salam Dar, Philip Salt, Abhinandan Singh, Swapnil Singh, Jordan Cox, Kanishk Chouhan, Jacob Duffy, Richard Gleeson, Vicky Ostwal, Vihaan Malhotra, Mangesh Yadav, Satvik Deswal.

Gujarat Titans Squad

Sai Sudharsan, Shubman Gill(c), Jos Buttler(w), Washington Sundar, Nishant Sindhu, Jason Holder, Rashid Khan, Kagiso Rabada, Arshad Khan, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Anuj Rawat, Glenn Phillips, Rahul Tewatia, Kulwant Khejroliya, Kumar Kushagra, Ravisrinivasan Sai Kishore, Shahrukh Khan, Ishant Sharma, Luke Wood, Ashok Sharma, Connor Esterhuizen, Gurnoor Brar, Manav Suthar, Jayant Yadav.