India, June 3 -- Virat Kohli has featured in IPL finals before, and never has he had the highest score for his side as the Royal Challengers Bengaluru lost on all occasions. On Tuesday, as the RCB returned to the final for the first time in nine years, taking on the Punjab Kings, Kohli showed considerable signs of struggle, leaving head coach Andy Flower concerned.

Kohli, who has usually been an aggressor in the powerplay since being promoted to the opening spot in the IPL, dropped anchor in the final at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. He managed just 13 runs off 10 balls in the powerplay, comprising a solitary boundary as the RCB scored 55 for one, riding on a fiery 9-ball 19 from Phil Salt, before Mayank Agarwal scored 24 off 1...