The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 season has already seen some exciting moments, but there was a brief scare for Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) fans when Virat Kohli injured his finger during a match against Gujarat Titans (GT) on April 2, 2025.
While fielding, Kohli suffered a painful injury, leading to concerns about his health. However, RCB’s head coach Andy Flower quickly provided an update, reassuring everyone that Kohli is fine and will continue playing. Let’s dive into the details of the incident, the match itself, and the impact on both teams.
Virat Kohli Finger Injury Scare
The injury occurred in the 12th over of GT’s innings when Kohli was fielding at deep mid-wicket. He attempted to stop a powerful shot from Sai Sudharsan, but missed, and the ball raced to the boundary.
As soon as Kohli missed the shot, he looked uncomfortable and was immediately attended to by the team’s physio. While it was a moment of concern for RCB fans, Kohli did not leave the field and continued to play after receiving treatment.
After the match, RCB head coach Andy Flower confirmed that there was no serious damage and that Kohli was fine. He reassured the media, saying, “Virat looks fine, he’s okay.” This news brought relief to fans who were worried about their star player, especially since Kohli is such a key part of the team’s batting lineup.
RCB’s Batting Struggles
Virat Kohli’s injury wasn’t the only concern for RCB during the match. The team faced a tough challenge with the bat as well. Kohli, who has been in great form this season, had a rare failure. He was dismissed for just 7 runs off 6 balls against GT’s bowler Arshad Khan.
This marked the first time in IPL 2025 that Kohli failed to score at least 40 runs in a match. Kohli’s dismissal came when he tried to pull a delivery but ended up hitting it straight to a fielder at deep backward square leg.
RCB’s batting struggles didn’t end there. The team got off to a poor start, with Phil Salt scoring only 14 runs, and both Devdutt Padikkal (4) and captain Rajat Patidar (12) falling early. By the 6.2-over mark, RCB was in trouble at 42/4.
However, Jitesh Sharma (33 off 21) and Liam Livingstone (54 off 40) stepped up with a solid 52-run partnership in 38 balls, helping RCB recover slightly. Despite their efforts, RCB’s total was not enough to challenge GT’s chase.
GT’s Comfortable Chase
GT, on the other hand, chased down the target with ease. After restricting RCB to a relatively low total, GT made the run chase look simple, reaching the target in just 17.5 overs.
Sai Sudharsan played a steady knock of 49 runs off 36 balls, while Jos Buttler played a match-winning innings, remaining unbeaten on 73 runs off just 39 deliveries. Buttler’s performance was crucial in helping GT secure an easy win by eight wickets.
The victory handed RCB their first defeat of IPL 2025, as they couldn’t defend their total against a confident GT team. Despite a strong performance from Mohammed Siraj, who took 3 wickets for just 19 runs in his four overs, RCB’s batting and fielding challenges left them with little chance to win.
Mohammed Siraj’s Standout Performance
Although RCB suffered a loss, Mohammed Siraj was one of the standout performers in the match. He bowled brilliantly, taking 3 wickets for just 19 runs.
Siraj’s performance caused trouble for the GT batters, making it difficult for them to build partnerships early in the chase. Despite his efforts, RCB couldn’t stop GT from chasing down the target in just under 18 overs.
RCB’s First Defeat of IPL 2025
This match was a tough one for RCB, as they faced a defeat after starting the season strong. While the injury scare to Virat Kohli worried fans, the update from Andy Flower assured everyone that he’s fine.
However, RCB’s batting struggles and GT’s smooth chase resulted in a loss. RCB will need to regroup and focus on improving their batting performance if they want to bounce back in the upcoming matches.
As for Gujarat Titans, their all-round performance showed why they are one of the strongest teams in the tournament. With key players like Jos Buttler and Sai Sudharsan performing well with the bat and a good bowling attack, they are looking like a tough team to beat in IPL 2025.