RCB loses season opener without Virat Kohli

Virat Kohli, a star player for Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), missed the season opener due to a shoulder injury. This game was played against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), who won comfortably by 37 runs. Kohli has been a key player for RCB since the league began and has participated in every season. Kohli was picked by RCB in the IPL draft after Delhi Daredevils chose another player first. This decision allowed him to build a long-lasting relationship with RCB, where he is the only player to have remained with the same team throughout all 18 IPL seasons. RCB has faced mixed results in their season openers over the years. In the first-ever IPL match in 2008, they struggled, scoring only 82 runs against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), while Brendon McCullum scored an impressive 158 runs. In 2017, RCB also lost to SRH in their opener, with Kohli again absent due to injury. In other years, RCB had some tough outings, like in 2019 when they collapsed for just 70 runs against Chennai Super Kings (CSK). However, they managed a dramatic win in 2021 against Chennai with a last-minute effort from AB de Villiers. In 2024, Kohli scored a modest 21 runs, and CSK won the match. Looking ahead to 2025, many RCB fans are hopeful this could be their year, especially with the number 18 holding special meaning in Kohli's career. They believe in their team's potential and are eager for a strong performance in their next match against KKR.