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Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) head coach Andy Flower has provided an update on Virat Kohli’s finger injury sustained during the IPL 2025 clash against Gujarat Titans (GT) on Wednesday, April 2.
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Kohli’s Injury Scare
The injury occurred during the 12th over of GT’s chase when Sai Sudharsan attempted a sweep shot off Krunal Pandya. Kohli, stationed at deep mid-wicket, tried to stop the ball but misjudged the bounce, and it slipped through his hands, racing away for a boundary. The incident left Kohli in visible discomfort, raising concerns among RCB fans.
However, Flower reassured everyone that Kohli is doing fine.
“Virat looks fine, he’s okay,” Flower confirmed in the post-match press conference, easing fears of a serious injury.
RCB’s Struggles and Siraj’s Stellar Spell
The match proved disappointing for RCB, as they succumbed to an eight-wicket defeat against GT at the Chinnaswamy Stadium. One of the biggest talking points was the impressive performance of Mohammed Siraj, who played a crucial role in GT’s victory.
Siraj, who was not retained by RCB ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction, proved his worth with a match-winning spell, finishing with 3/19 in four overs. Flower acknowledged Siraj’s brilliance and admitted that his absence from the squad was felt.
“Siraj bowled very well, didn’t he? It is great for him to come here and do that. I thought he bowled an outstanding spell with the new ball. His lines were tight, and the lengths were good. He threatened the stumps a lot,” Flower stated.
However, the RCB coach defended the franchise’s auction strategy, expressing satisfaction with the current squad.
“We all rate Siraj very highly, and we love him. I think we had a good auction. I wish him all the success in the world. We are happy with the squad that we have got,” Flower added.
GT’s Dominant Chase and RCB’s Powerplay Woes
Chasing 170, GT secured a comfortable victory with eight wickets in hand and 13 balls to spare. Jos Buttler played a match-winning knock of 73 off 39 balls*, while Sai Sudharsan (49 off 36) and Sherfane Rutherford (30 off 18)* chipped in with crucial contributions.
Reflecting on the key moments, Flower admitted that RCB’s struggles in the powerplay cost them the match.
“When they came out chasing a smaller total than what is normal in Chinnaswamy, you could see they played more carefully in powerplay and tried to keep wickets in hand. We played aggressively in the powerplay and lost four wickets. That was obviously a big swing in the game. Often, if you lose in the powerplay, you are in trouble,” Flower explained.
Additionally, Flower highlighted the impact of dew and the nature of the pitch, stating that GT adapted better to the conditions.
“I thought we scrapped very well after the powerplay. I think the toss was reasonably important. There was quite a lot of dew out there. The dry ball gripped off the seam, and that was fairly important in the context of the game. It wasn’t a typical Chinnaswamy wicket, where you expect the ball to come quicker than that. GT played better than us and were sharper than us,” he added.
Key Match Stats: RCB vs GT – IPL 2025
| Match Details | RCB vs GT – IPL 2025 |
|---|---|
| Venue | Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru |
| RCB Total | 169/8 (20 overs) |
| GT Total | 172/2 (17.5 overs) |
| Top Scorer (GT) | Jos Buttler – 73* (39) |
| Top Scorer (RCB) | Glenn Maxwell – 41 (28) |
| Best Bowler (GT) | Mohammed Siraj – 3/19 (4) |
| Best Bowler (RCB) | Krunal Pandya – 1/22 (4) |
| Match Result | GT won by 8 wickets |
What’s Next for RCB?
After this setback, RCB will look to bounce back in their next IPL 2025 fixture. With Kohli declared fit, fans will hope for a strong comeback from their star batter and the entire squad.
Stay tuned for Dream11 prediction insights and match analysis for upcoming RCB matches!
