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Heartbreak For RCB: When Virat Kohli's Red Army 'Narrowly' Lost The IPL 2016 Final

RCB Lost The Final Match Against SRH In 2016 [x.com]RCB Lost The Final Match Against SRH In 2016 [x.com]

The 2016 Indian Premier League final between Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) and Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) will forever remain etched in the memories of RCB fans as a clash of titans that ended in heartbreak for the Bangalore outfit. 

Despite a valiant effort, RCB succumbed to the pressure of a mammoth run chase, handing SRH their maiden IPL title with an eight-run victory in a thrilling summit clash on May 29, 2016, at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore.

Heading into the final, RCB, led by the unstoppable Virat Kohli, were riding high on confidence, buoyed by their skipper's record-breaking performances throughout the tournament. However, it was SRH skipper David Warner who drew first blood by winning the toss and opting to bat first. Warner's decision proved crucial as he led from the front with a scintillating 69 off 38 balls, propelling SRH to a formidable total of 208 runs.

When RCB narrowly lost the IPL 2016 final

Despite the daunting target, RCB's openers, Chris Gayle and Virat Kohli, launched a blistering assault on the SRH bowlers, setting the stage for what seemed like an inevitable victory. Gayle's explosive 76 off 38 balls and Kohli's composed 54 off 35 balls put RCB in a commanding position at 140 for one in the 13th over. However, what followed was a dramatic collapse of RCB's batting lineup, as they lost wickets at regular intervals.


SRH's Ben Cutting emerged as the hero with both bat and ball, claiming crucial wickets of Gayle and KL Rahul to halt RCB's momentum. Despite valiant efforts from the RCB middle order, including Yuvraj Singh, the mounting pressure proved too much to handle. In the end, RCB fell short by eight runs, leaving their dreams of lifting the IPL trophy shattered once again.

For RCB fans, especially those gathered at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, it was a bitter pill to swallow. The likes of Kohli, Gayle, and AB de Villiers had mesmerized crowds throughout the season with their extraordinary talent, but when it mattered most, they couldn't deliver the elusive title to their beloved franchise.

As the fireworks lit up the Bangalore sky in celebration of SRH's historic victory, RCB was left to rue what could have been. Despite their valiant effort, they would have to wait for another season to break the jinx and lift the coveted IPL trophy, extending their title drought to 16 seasons.