India, May 30 -- Royal Challengers Bengaluru secured a dominant eight-wicket victory over Punjab Kings in Qualifier 1, storming into their first Indian Premier League final since 2016. While RCB's bowlers delivered an impeccable performance, it was former captain Virat Kohli's sharp on-field leadership that stood out, guiding his team through a high-pressure contest and orchestrating a near-flawless bowling effort.

While Rajat Patidar may have been captain on paper, it was Kohli who wore the authority visibly. Whether it was directing players in the field, repositioning them with pointed instructions, or offering real-time tactical inputs to bowlers, the former skipper's presence impacted RCB's masterclass on the field in the first innin...