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India wicketkeeper-batter KL Rahul in his latest interaction with Star Sports went down the memory lane to recall the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2016 final which saw the Royal Challengers Bangalore (now Royal Challengers Bengaluru) fell just short to lift their maiden title in the cash-rich league.
Speaking after being released by the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) ahead of IPL 2025 mega auction, KL Rahul also revealed that he has time and again spoken about this moment with star Indian batter and former skipper Virat Kohli. It is to be noted in IPL 2016, RCB fell just eight runs short during their run-chase to lift their maiden title in front of the home crowd at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.
2016 is always a reminder that had one of us played a little longer: KL Rahul
Recalling the crucial moment from the summit clash, KL Rahul revealed that he has spoken a lot about it with Virat Kohli in the last five to six years. KL also believes that if either of them could have played a little longer, they would have lifted the IPL title. “It’s a long time ago, but it’s still fresh in my memories. I and Virat (Kohli) always talked about it a few times that 2016 is always a reminder that had one of us played a little longer, it would have been very different. It would have been a fairytale to be right at the bottom to win seven games to qualify and then win the final at home,” Rahul said on Star Sports.
Speaking of the game, while chasing 209 to lift the title, RCB fell short by just eight runs, losing the game and the title to SunRisers Hyderabad. KL Rahul was dismissed for 11, whereas Virat Kohli’s 54-run knock did not help in RCB’s cause.
KL Rahul to join RCB in IPL 2025?
Star Indian wicketkeeper-batter KL Rahul being released from the LSG squad ahead of mega auction came as a big surprise. However, the Indian cricketer has registered in the IPL 2025 mega auction for a base price of INR 2 Crore, there have been rumours of the Karnataka-born joining RCB. After the 32-year-old recently opened up on his stint with the Bengaluru-based franchise, it further hints that he could rejoin the franchise with the mega auction set to be held on November 24 and 25 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
