KL Rahul Opens Up About His Biggest IPL Regret: That Heartbreaking 2016 Final

KL Rahul recently got candid about one of his biggest disappointments in the IPL – the heartbreaking 2016 final loss with Royal Challengers Bangalore against Sunrisers Hyderabad.

A Heartfelt Conversation

Chatting on Star Sports, Rahul revealed that he and Virat Kohli have talked about that loss countless times over the past five to six years. He shared, “Virat and I have spoken about it many times. If one of us had played a little longer and won that game, it would have been very different. And winning an IPL is so special. That 2016 season was very special for RCB. We were at the bottom of the table and had to win seven games in a row to qualify, and we did. We went on to win the eliminator and made it to the final.”

A Near Miss

Chasing 209, RCB fell just eight runs short, finishing at 200 despite Kohli’s impressive 54 off 35 balls and Rahul’s 11 off 9. Rahul couldn’t help but reflect on how close they were to a fairytale ending. “If one of us had stayed longer, it could have been a very different story. Winning at home in Chinnaswamy would have been unforgettable,” he said.

Growth and Learning at RCB

Beyond the regret, Rahul spoke about how his time at RCB transformed him as a cricketer. Joining as a young player, he initially lacked confidence in his white-ball abilities. But sharing a dressing room with legends like Kohli, AB de Villiers, and Chris Gayle had a profound impact on him.

“Watching how Virat, AB, and Chris trained and approached the game was the best learning experience. I picked up so much from them — from fitness to mental toughness,” he said. Rahul credited Kohli’s dedication to fitness for inspiring him to take training more seriously, which led to improved consistency across formats.

“From 2014-15 onwards, I started believing I could succeed in white-ball cricket too,” Rahul added, highlighting how RCB laid the foundation for his growth as an international cricketer.