New Delhi: Virat Kohli revealed his two heartbreaks in life came in 2016 when India lost in the semifinal of the T20 World Cup at home and Royal Challengers Bengaluru finished runners-up in the Indian Premier League. Since making his senior team debut in 2008, Kohli gradually grew in stature before having a breakthrough year in 2016.
Favourites to win the trophy at home, India won three out of their four league games to book a place in the semifinals. In the knockouts, India were outclassed by eventual champions West Indies, despite Kohli scoring an unbeaten 89 in India’s 192/2 in 20 overs. The right-hander also finished second in the list of most runs scored in the tournament. He finished with 273 runs from five games including three half-centuries. Bangladesh opener Tamim Iqbal finished at the top with 295 runs.
The same year, Kohli’s RCB lost to Sunrisers Hyderebad in the final. With 973 runs from 16 games including for hundreds, Kohli was at the top of his peak. Under the leadership of Kohli, RCB were unstoppable as they finished second in the league stage with eight wins from 14 games.
The Bengaluru-based franchise book a place on the final with a win over Gujarat Lions in Qualifier 1. “I had two heartbreaks in my life and both happened in 2016. First was the T20 World Cup and then the IPL Final,” Kohli told JioCinema as he recalled back the memories.
“It took me a few days to get over the T20 World Cup loss, because I was in such a position that I thought I could do it for India. That took me a long time to get over. The next day I was literally drained and I didn’t even step out of my room. It was very hard on me,” added the former India captain.
“And then when we lost the IPL final the same year here (Bengaluru). We felt like that was written in the stars. We were chasing 200-odd runs and after 9 overs we were 100-plus without loss. When AB (de Villiers) got out we needed 68 off 42 balls with eight wickets in hand. Sometimes you feel like how you lost that game. The most heartbreaking part was when we went back to the hotel, the whole basement was decorated for an after party. But when we went back there were only four people sitting,” he added.
