The Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) veteran Virat Kohli has another chance to end his wait for an Indian Premier League (IPL) trophy. Kohli is known for his aggressive style on the field and former Gujarat Titans (GT) pacer Varun Aaron feels that the 36-year-old is going to pick a battle with someone in the clash against Punjab Kings (PBKS). He also feels that Josh Hazlewood who has never lost a final can be the lucky charm for the team.
“I mean there's a lot of symbolism this year for RCB. They won a game at the Chepauk after so long. They have done incredible things this year. And Hazlewood has been their lucky charm—not just a lucky charm, somebody who's really performed well and he knows what to bring to the finals,” Aaron said on JioHotstar on the eve of IPL 2025 final.
In the group stage clash, Kohli teased PBKS captain Shreyas Iyer while celebrating the win in Mullanpur. Aaron reckons that Kohli will target a bowler and go hard at him. He thinks Kohli gets underway at the big stage by picking a battle with someone.
“I think when it comes to Kohli and Hazlewood, what Kohli does really well is pick a battle. The way he zones in and the way he cues in, especially in big games, he just picks a battle and gets completely focused and consumed in that battle, and that's what Virat Kohli is going to do tomorrow. He's going to pick a bowler. He's going to go after him. You're going to see him come hard on the field as well and try to pick a battle with somebody, and he consumes himself in that battle, and that's how he gets going and that's how he wins big finals,” Aaron concluded.
Kohli versus Jamieson again
In the Qualifier 1 clash, RCB won by eight wickets in a comprehensive manner in Mullanpur. However, Kohli fell cheaply in the powerplay overs of the run chase. He got out caught behind poking at a short delivery from PBKS pacer Kyle Jamieson. Iyer might employ a similar plan against him in the final as well but the conditions at Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad may not suit the Kiwi pacer.
Kohli's IPL record in Ahmedabad
So far, Kohli has played six IPL games at the venue. He has scored 219 runs from six innings at an average of 54.75, including two half-centuries. His strike rate is 131.13. However, he is expected to score at a higher strike rate as it has been a high-scoring ground this season.