The fanbase of the Royal Challengers Bangalore have remained loyal throughout the 15 seasons of the IPL competition. Despite the regular heartbreaks of either being knocked out in the playoffs or losing the final, or not even qualifying in the top four, the fans have stuck with the franchise through thick and thin, and yearn for that elusive maiden IPL trophy.
RCB have lost 3 finals – in 2009 to Deccan Chargers; in 2011 to Chennai Super Kings; and in 2016 to Sunrisers Hyderabad – with the disappointment of not winning any one of them remains among the franchise and their massive following. They fell one step closer to the final last season, in IPL 2022, losing to the Rajasthan Royals in the Qualifier 2.
Virat Kohli’s couldn’t take RCB to the title in 2016
RCB had finished second-to-last in 2008, but bounced back strongly to finish at the third position in 2009. They defeated CSK in the semi-final but went down to Deccan Chargers in the final a last-over thriller by just 6 runs.
In this article, we look at the RCB playing XI that lost the IPL final to Deccan Chargers in 2009:
Jacques Kallis
Legendary all-rounder Jacques Kallis scored 15 runs in 17 balls in the final and bowled 4 wicketless overs for 24 runs. After leaving RCB, Kallis joined KKR, first as a player, playing a big part in KKR’s 2012 final victory, and then as their batting coach. He has also been part of commentary panels post retirement.
Manish Pandey
Pandey was the first-ever Indian batsman to hit a century in the IPL. Then a youngster, Pandey managed just 4 runs in the final. He too was bought by KKR in the auction afterward and won the 2014 title with KKR, before moving to SRH and LSG. Pandey is out of the Indian team but continues to ransack runs in domestic cricket.
Roelof van der Merwe
The South African all-rounder Roelof van der Merwe was RCB’s top-scorer in the final with 32 runs in 21 balls and bowled 4 wicketless overs. With lack of playing opportunities in South Africa, Roelof van der Merwe shifted base to the Netherlands and is their key player now, having recently appeared in the 2022 T20 WC.
Rahul Dravid
The legendary Indian batsman Rahul Dravid scored 9 runs off 13 balls in the 2009 final vs Deccan. After leaving RCB, in the last phase of his IPL career, he captained Rajasthan Royals and then was the coach of RR and Delhi too. Dravid, a former India captain, is currently the head coach of senior men’s Team India.
Ross Taylor
Ross Taylor had scored 27 runs off 20 balls in the 2009 final and was a crucial cog of RCB. Taylor’s IPL career fizzled away after leaving RCB, but he became a New Zealand legend in the past decade, and retired from international cricket earlier in 2022. He has also recently launched his autobiography.
Virat Kohli
Then a chubby youngster, Kohli scored just 7 runs while batting at number 6 in the 2009 final. But as the seniors departed, and Kohli started growing in stature as India’s batsman, the right-hander was soon promoted to RCB’s vice-captain when Vettori was their skipper and then was named their captain.
Although Kohli led RCB for a long time, he couldn’t deliver a single title and stepped away from captaincy after IPL 2021. Kohli remains the IPL’s leading run-scorer.
Mark Boucher
Wicket-keeper Mark Boucher scored just 5 runs in the 2009 final. The South African’s playing career was ended due to a freak on-field injury when a bail hit his eye. He then moved into coaching stints and only recently stepped down as South Africa’s head coach, but with a lucrative job lined up: Boucher has been named as the new head coach of Mumbai Indians from 2023.
Robin Uthappa
One of the most successful batters in the IPL, Robin Uthappa scored 17 runs off 15 balls in the IPL 2009 final. Uthappa played for a number of franchises, but had his most success at KKR in 2014 and CSK in 2021, finishing with two IPL titles. He retired after IPL 2022.
Praveen Kumar
One of India’s finest swing bowlers, Praveen Kumar had a forgettable IPL 2009 final, where he leaked 43 runs in 4 overs with no wicket to his name. Kumar lost his place in the Indian team, but played in the IPL until 2017 for Punjab and Gujarat Lions. The Uttar Pradesh seamer has retired from all high-level forms of the game.
Vinay Kumar
A domestic legend, Vinay Kumar retired from all forms of the game in 2021, and joined the coaching staff of his former IPL team Mumbai Indians. Kumar featured in the 2009 final for RCB, and returned with figures of 2/30 in 4 overs.
Anil Kumble
The then RCB captain Anil Kumble bowled an iconic spell in the 2009 final – 4/16 in 4 overs. Kumble bowled Adam Gilchrist for a duck in the first over of the match, and then also dismissed Symonds, Rohit Sharma, and Venugopal Rao. However, this great bowling performance – that was also adjudged the Man of the Match – from the great leg-spinner ended up on the losing side.
After retiring, Kumble became a commentator before taking up the coaching jobs of Mumbai Indians, Team India, and Punjab Kings.
