Virat Kohli was indeed named the Man of the Match after Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) defeated Punjab Kings (PBKS) by 7 wickets on Sunday, April 20, 2025, in their IPL match. He scored an unbeaten 73 runs off 54 balls, anchoring the chase of 158 runs.
However, during the post-match presentation, Kohli expressed that he was unhappy with receiving the award and felt it should have gone to his teammate, Devdutt Padikkal. Padikkal scored a quickfire 61 runs off 35 balls, which provided crucial momentum to the RCB innings.
Kohli stated, “I thought Dev made a difference today, this award should go to him, I don’t know why they have given it to me.” He further explained his own batting approach, saying he aimed to hold up one end and allow other players to bat aggressively around him. He acknowledged Padikkal’s impact in the match and believed his contribution was more deserving of the Man of the Match award.
Despite his personal feelings about the award, Kohli recognized the importance of the win for RCB, which moved them up the points table. He also praised the team’s performance and the balance they have achieved this season.
It’s worth noting that in the previous IPL season (2024), Virat Kohli had an outstanding individual performance, winning the Orange Cap for scoring the most runs (741) in the tournament.
