In a moment of pure cricketing camaraderie and playful rivalry, Virat Kohli stole the show during the post-match celebrations after Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) clinched a commanding six-wicket victory over Delhi Capitals (DC) at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi. The former RCB captain recreated the iconic ‘this is my ground’ celebration from the blockbuster Kannada film Kantara, teasing KL Rahul in a light-hearted jab that had everyone in splits.
This gesture was a direct callback to Rahul’s own celebration earlier this month at the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. During that match, Rahul, leading DC, had scored a blistering unbeaten 93 off 53 balls to steer his team to victory over RCB. Marking his dominance at his home ground, Rahul had pulled off the Kantara-inspired celebration, later revealing its significance: ‘This is a special place for me. That celebration was from one of my favorite movies, Kantara. It’s a tiny reminder that this ground, this turf, this home is where I have grown up, and this is mine.’
Fast forward to Sunday’s clash in Delhi, and it was Kohli’s turn to flip the script. As RCB celebrated their emphatic win, Kohli approached Rahul, who was chatting with fellow Karnataka players Karun Nair and Devdutt Padikkal. With a mischievous grin, Kohli attempted the Kantara pose, only for Rahul to playfully direct him toward the pitch, suggesting he do it there instead. The duo burst into laughter, showcasing the strong bond between the two Indian cricket stalwarts despite being on opposite sides of the IPL fence.
Turning to the match itself, RCB displayed a clinical performance to outclass DC. Batting first, Delhi Capitals struggled to build momentum despite a gritty 41 off 39 balls from KL Rahul. Frequent wickets pegged them back, but a late blitz from Tristan Stubbs (34 off 18 balls) helped DC post a competitive 162 for 8. RCB’s bowling attack was spearheaded by Bhuvneshwar Kumar (3/33) and Josh Hazlewood (2/36), complemented by tidy spells from Krunal Pandya (1/28) and Yash Dayal (1/42).
In response, RCB chased down the target with ease in 18.3 overs. Krunal Pandya played a match-defining knock of 73 not out off 47 balls, anchoring the innings with composure. Kohli chipped in with a stylish 51, while Tim David provided the finishing touch with a quickfire 19 not out off just 5 balls, smashing the winning runs in style. For DC, Axar Patel was the pick of the bowlers with figures of 2/19, but it wasn’t enough to halt RCB’s charge.
This win adds another chapter to RCB’s resurgent campaign in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023, as they continue to build momentum at a crucial stage. Kohli’s playful banter with Rahul not only highlighted the spirit of the game but also reminded fans of the deep-rooted friendships that transcend team rivalries. As the tournament heats up, moments like these serve as a delightful reminder that cricket is as much about joy and brotherhood as it is about competition.