High hopes, harsh ends: The story of RCB’s failed final attempts and gutting qualifier setbacks
Some journeys are more about the heartbreaks than the destination. For the Royal Challengers Bengaluru, the IPL has often been a tale of hope, stardust, and then silence. Through brilliant campaigns and heroic performances, RCB have reached the brink of glory—but the trophy has always slipped away. Let’s revisit five gut-wrenching moments when the crown was just inches away.
RCB’s first taste of the big stage came in 2009, when the IPL was shifted to South Africa. The final was set in Johannesburg. Anil Kumble’s men had done well to restrict the Adam Gilchrist-led Deccan Chargers to just 143. Kumble himself bowled a dream spell of 4/16. The bowlers had done their bit. But when it came to chasing, the nerves kicked in. Wickets fell regularly. Virat Kohli, young and untested then, managed only seven runs. Eventually, RCB fell short by just six runs. It was their first brush with heartbreak.
RCB had a squad that could terrify any opponent—Kohli, de Villiers, and Gayle were in top form. They had topped the league stage and seemed poised for a historic title. But CSK had other ideas. First, in Qualifier 1, Suresh Raina’s blinder of 73* stole the game despite RCB’s solid 175. Aravind and Zaheer leaked runs in the death, and CSK snatched a win with five balls to spare. RCB had to take the longer road to the final, but they returned—only to be battered again. Murali Vijay’s 95 and Hussey’s 63 in the final meant RCB were left chasing shadows. They crumbled under pressure and lost by 58 runs.
After three years of no playoffs, 2015 looked like the redemption year. The batting trio of Kohli, Gayle, and de Villiers was on fire. One match saw Kohli and AB add an unbeaten 215-run stand, still one of the most iconic partnerships in T20 cricket. RCB crushed the Rajasthan Royals in the Eliminator. But when they met CSK again in Qualifier 2, things fell apart. Nehra removed both Kohli and de Villiers in the fifth over. Gayle tried to steady the ship with a 41, but RCB could only manage 139. Mike Hussey’s 56 helped CSK chase it down, leaving RCB fans with another 'what if'.
The 2016 campaign had magic written all over it. Kohli scored over 900 runs in a single season. Bangalore won the qualifier against Gujarat Lions and stormed into their third final. The crowd in Bengaluru was buzzing. SRH, led by Warner, posted 208. Kohli and Gayle gave RCB a dream start, smashing 114 in just over 10 overs. A win seemed inevitable. But as quickly as the storm hit, it passed. Wickets tumbled. The middle order couldn’t hold. From 114 for no loss to 200/7—the collapse was brutal. RCB lost by just eight runs. That night, silence fell over the Chinnaswamy.
Across these years, if there was one team that consistently stood between RCB and glory, it was CSK. Dhoni's men had the answers, whether in the finals in 2011 or the qualifier in 2015. Even in Qualifier 1 of 2011, RCB looked dominant until the final few overs. But every time, CSK showed calm nerves and finished strong. Dhoni’s leadership, Raina’s fearless batting, and Ashwin’s spin worked like clockwork. For RCB, Chennai wasn't just an opponent—it was a recurring heartbreak.
