RCB vs GT Qualifier 1: Virat Kohli's 10-year wait for fifty in IPL playoffs continues

Ten years. That’s how long it’s been since Virat Kohli last scored a fifty in the Indian Premier League playoffs. One of the most consistent batsmen in IPL history failed yet again on Tuesday during Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s Qualifier 1 clash against Gujarat Titans in IPL 2026.

Facing GT’s fast attack, Kohli missed out on a half-century by just seven runs after chopping Jason Holder on his stumps in the ninth over of the innings. The RCB talisman never looked completely fluent on the night and still managed to score 43 runs off 25 balls for a success rate of 172.

RCB vs GT, IPL 2026 Qualifier 1: Live Updates | Scorecard

Kohli’s last fifty in an IPL play off game came only in 2016 when RCB faced SunRisers Hyderabad in the final. In that match, Kohli scored 54 off 35 balls for a success of 154, though RCB ended up losing the title in heartbreaking fashion.

Overall, Kohli has scored only two fifties in IPL playoff matches – one against SRH in 2016 and the other against Chennai Super Kings in 2011. His unbeaten 70 off 44 balls against CSK remains his highest score in the playoffs.

VIRAT KOHLI’S 50+ SCORE IN IPL PLAYOFFS

70* discount on 44 balls vs CSK, 2011
54 off 35 balls vs SRH, 2016

In total, Kohli played 17 IPL playoff matches and scored 396 runs. Despite his stunning consistency in the league stage over the years, the batsman has struggled to maintain the same standards in the knockout stage of the tournament.

In fact, since his fifty in the 2016 final, Kohli’s 43 against Gujarat Titans on Tuesday is his highest score in the playoffs.

KOHLI’S PLAYOFF SCORES SINCE 2016

6 vs SRH, 2020
39 vs KKR, 2021
25 vs LSG, 2022
7 vs RR, 2022
33 vs. RR, 2024
12 vs PBKS, 2025
43 vs GT, 2026

On Tuesday, the RCB charge was led by skipper Rajat Patidar, who got to GT in the last 5 overs of the match to guide RCB to a massive total of 254 runs for the loss of 5 wickets.

Before Patidar took over the innings, useful knocks from Virat Kohli (43 off 35), Devdutt Padikkala (30 off 18) and Krunal Pandya (43 off 28) kept RCB on the mark in a huge total.

The knocks, capped by Patidar’s blistering 93* off 33 balls, helped RCB to their highest ever playoff score on Tuesday.

– The end

Issued by:

Kingshuk Kusari

Published on:

26 May 2026 21:13 IST