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Despite all the runs, Kohli stares at empty space

Crestfallen Royal Challengers Bangalore skipper has done everything with the bat in quest for ultimate glory, only to fall short

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Royal Challengers Bangalore players thank their loyal fans after losing the final to Sunrisers Hyderabad at M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on Sunday
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Exactly two months ago, Virat Kohli stood crestfallen in the middle of the Wankhede pitch in Mumbai, all alone. Andre Russell had smashed a six off his bowling in the final over to send India packing from the semifinal of the World T20.

Sunday night presented a similar picture of India's most revered cricketer at the moment. Walking out with his troops to attend the presentation formalities after Royal Challengers Bangalore went down to Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL final, Kohli broke away from the group after a few minutes, choosing to stand all by himself.

He was immersed in deep thought, staring straight indefinitely. It was only when David Warner walked up to him, hugged him and spoke a few words that Kohli came out of his own world. Shikhar Dhawan was the next to greet him after Warner. For a few seconds while chatting with the two, Kohli afforded a rare smile, and got back to his thoughts once they departed.

Click here for the full coverage of the IPL 2016, including commentary, fixtures, scorecards and more.

Flashes of March 31, 2016, might have come rushing back into Kohli's mind. Despite giving immense joy to his country with the bat during the World T20, Kohli had to suffer the pain of returning empty-handed.

Luckily for him, the IPL was not too far away, a place where he could quench the thirst of a title triumph as skipper of RCB. For the first half of the tournament, it seemed a fairly distant dream. But Kohli loves to dream, especially the ones that require twice the effort in reality.

Faced with a daunting challenge of winning their last four matches to qualify for the playoffs, Kohli took it upon himself to carry the burden, scoring two tons and two unbeaten half-centuries in the four outings to lead his troops to a remarkable entry into the final. That he had notched up an eye-popping four hundreds this IPL season after having none in T20 cricket before didn't matter to the skipper. He was eyeing the title, he was eyeing the ultimate glory.

His juices were flowing faster on Sunday, which was hardly a surprise. He was constantly running around the field, talking to his bowlers, putting his hands up in frustration after many a misfield. With the willow in hand and a mammoth task ahead of him, Kohli was at his beautiful best, even depositing the wily Mustafizur Rahman for a six over covers after dancing down the wicket. It just seemed his night.

Alas, it wasn't. The RCB middle-order crumbled, and Kohli was left stunned, much like at the Wankhede. It was another two months of achieving every possible record with the bat, but falling one step short of a title.
No wonder Kohli wanted to be alone.

But the presentation ceremony was good to go, and it was time for Kohli to collect his Orange Cap for most runs this season.

"It is a nice incentive, but it doesn't feel good to be at the other side of the result," Kohli said, his face still grim.

It was an incentive Kohli richly deserved. Most people predicted the man to get past 1,000 runs this IPL with the way he was batting, a feat not even the greatest optimist would have thought of before. Kohli needed 81 in his last outing, he fell short by 27.

That Kohli was among the runs in the tournament wasn't quite a surprise, considering the kind of form he was in since the start of the World T20. However, it's the four centuries and the complete ease, assurance and domination with which he scored them that re-defined his image.

If the World T20 was about Kohli going to the next level, the IPL was about him making a permanent spot there.

"I surprised myself there," Kohli said about the four tons.

As the quick interaction was dusted, Kohli took a long route back to his RCB group. He walked slowly, head down, and stationed himself away from his group again.

But just as he was re-entering into his thoughts, he had to come up to the stage one more time and collect the Most Valuable Player of the tournament award. Kohli did so, straight-faced, and was asked to say a few more words.

"I don't want to talk much. The winning team deserves the place here," Kohli said.

There's no doubt Kohli will soon get to that place. Till then, his bat will continue to do the talking.

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