NEW DELHI: KL Rahul recently opened up about one of his biggest regrets in the IPL, the 2016 final loss with Royal Challengers Bangalore (now Royal Challengers Bengaluru) against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH).
Speaking on Star Sports, Rahul revealed that he and Virat Kohli have often discussed that heartbreak over the past five to six years.
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“Virat and I have spoken about it many times. If one of us had played a little longer and won that game, it would have been very different. And winning an IPL is so special. That 2016 season was very special for RCB. We were at the bottom of the table and had to win seven games in a row to qualify, and we did. We went on to win the eliminator and made it to the final,” Rahul recalled.
Chasing 209, RCB fell just eight runs short, finishing at 200 despite Kohli’s 54 off 35 balls and Rahul’s 11 off 9.
Rahul reflected on how close they were to scripting a fairy-tale ending. “If one of us had stayed longer, it could have been a very different story. Winning at home in Chinnaswamy would have been unforgettable,” he said.
Beyond the regret, Rahul spoke about how his time at RCB changed him as a cricketer. Having joined as a youngster, Rahul said he initially lacked belief in his white-ball skills. However, sharing a dressing room with legends like Kohli, AB de Villiers, and Chris Gayle had a massive impact on him.
“Watching how Virat, AB, and Chris trained and approached the game was the best learning experience. I picked up so much from them — from fitness to mental toughness,” Rahul said. He credited Kohli’s fitness journey for inspiring him to take training more seriously, which led to improved consistency across formats.
“From 2014-15 onwards, I started believing I could succeed in white-ball cricket too,” Rahul added, highlighting how RCB laid the foundation for his growth as an international cricketer.
