Heartbreak in the Stands: Anushka Sharma’s Disappointment as Virat Kohli Falls Short in IPL 2025 Thriller
In a high-octane IPL 2025 encounter at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, Virat Kohli once again carved his name into the annals of cricket history, smashing his 63rd IPL half-century to surpass David Warner and claim the record for the most fifties in the tournament’s history. However, the joy of his achievement was short-lived as Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) stumbled in their chase of a colossal target set by Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), leaving Kohli’s wife, Anushka Sharma, visibly heartbroken in the stands.
The match began with LSG unleashing a batting onslaught, piling up a mammoth 227 for 5 in their 20 overs. Skipper Rishabh Pant was the architect of this carnage, hammering an unbeaten 118 off 61 balls, studded with 11 fours and 8 towering sixes. His explosive knock, supported by quickfire cameos from Quinton de Kock (42 off 28) and Nicholas Pooran (35 off 19), left RCB with a mountain to climb under the floodlights.
RCB’s response started on a promising note with a blazing 61-run opening stand between Kohli and Phil Salt. Kohli, in particular, looked in sublime form, reaching his record-breaking fifty in just 34 balls in the 10th over. With this knock, he not only overtook Warner’s tally but also became the first batter to cross 9,000 runs for RCB across T20 formats (IPL and CLT20 combined). From the stands, Anushka Sharma beamed with pride, her applause echoing the roar of thousands of fans chanting ‘Kohli, Kohli!’
However, the tide turned dramatically in the 12th over when Kohli, on 62, fell to a well-disguised slower ball from Avesh Khan. As he trudged back to the pavilion, the camera panned to Anushka, whose expression shifted from elation to sheer disappointment. Her hands covered her face momentarily, capturing the raw emotion of a spouse watching a dream innings cut short at a critical juncture.
RCB’s collapse deepened as Rajat Patidar (9 off 7) and Liam Livingstone (12 off 10) perished to the fiery pace of William O’Rourke, leaving the scoreboard reading a precarious 102 for 4 after 14 overs. With the required rate soaring above 12 runs per over, the hopes of a stunned Chinnaswamy crowd rested on the shoulders of Jitesh Sharma, Mayank Agarwal, and the big-hitting Romario Shepherd.
Despite RCB already securing a playoff spot—a testament to their consistent campaign under Kohli’s leadership—a win in this match could propel them into the top two positions, offering a strategic advantage in the knockouts. LSG, on the other hand, are out of contention, but Pant’s men seemed determined to play the role of spoilers with a performance that was nothing short of spectacular.
As the match hung in a tantalizing balance, memories of Kohli’s past heroics flooded back. Known for scripting improbable chases, the ‘Chase Master’ has often turned games on their head for RCB. Though his dismissal marked a blow, the team’s depth and resilience will be tested in the final overs. Will RCB pull off a heist, or will LSG’s towering total prove insurmountable? Only time will tell, but one image will linger—Anushka Sharma’s crestfallen gaze, a poignant reminder of the emotional rollercoaster that is cricket.