While lauded as a superhero by many, Virat Kohli does not possess the magical powers required to weigh the outcome of competitive cricket fixtures in his favour.
His remarkable skill set means that results will often fall his way, with telling contributions being made across every format of the game.
Even the very best, though, can be struck with a sporting itch that proves impossible to scratch.
Kohli has been finding that out the hard way in IPL circles, with close to two decades of toil seeing him come up empty-handed.
Support
Good morning, 12th Man Army! ☀️
A reminder that no matter how tough the game is, this man plays his heart out and puts up a fight every single time! ❤️🥹
We’re grateful to have you do what you do, Virat. 🙌#PlayBold #ನಮ್ಮRCB #IPL2024 @imVkohli pic.twitter.com/shT6uAT92y
— Royal Challengers Bengaluru (@RCBTweets) April 7, 2024
Royal Challengers Bengaluru will always attract support before a ball is bowled in anger at any IPL event, but such support is proving difficult to justify.
It did not take long to slip off the early pace in 2024, with bet on sports markets now fancying the 7/2 Kolkata Knight Riders or Rajasthan Royals to go all the way.
Kohli will continue to make plenty of headlines on Paddy Power News, but said tales are once again being dominated by accounts of what could have been, rather than what could still become.
The law of averages dictates that tangible success should have been savoured by now, with it hard to believe that one of the all-time greats will be clinging to the hope of enjoying a case of 18th-time lucky when returning to the crease in 2025.
Kohli headed into the current IPL campaign full of optimism and daring to dream big.
He said prior to padding up for the first time: “That’s a dream of mine, to know what it feels like winning an IPL trophy. I will be here, be a part of the team that wins the trophy for the first time.”
That was, and still is, a bold call.
RCB have come close on three previous occasions to turning dreams into reality for their iconic vice-captain.
IPL finals were made in 2009, 2011 and 2016 – with important knocks from Kohli made along the way as runs piled up towards historic heights – but the Deccan Chargers, Chennai Super Kings and Sunrisers Hydrabad respectively conspired to block collective paths and walk away with the ultimate prize.
Inevitably, there has been talk of fluffed lines and failure to inspire when it matters most.
Those are accusations rarely levelled at Kohli, given all that he has achieved in the game at the very highest level, but they have become impossible to ignore.
Even RCB supporters are beginning to lose faith – which would have been unimaginable in the not-too-distant past – with some declaring during the 2024 tournament that “as long as Virat Kohli is in the team, we can’t win any trophy.”
Barren
1⃣1⃣0⃣ and counting!
Virat Kohli now holds the record for most catches in IPL as a non wicket-keeper 👏👏#TATAIPL | #RRvRCB | @imVkohli pic.twitter.com/4953BNK6kc
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) April 6, 2024
That is a statement almost as sweeping as the one made by the man himself when it comes to ending a barren run on the silverware front for RCB – with it yet to be determined whether there is an element of truth in either argument.
Frustration is, of course, a familiar calling card for fans across all sports and words can often be uttered in the heat of any given moment that are later regretted and rescinded.
In the case of Kohli, he will be hoping to silence any doubters sooner rather than later.
For now, he remains without an elusive IPL title, but he is still a hero and it would be foolish in the extreme to keep writing him off.
