Royal Challengers Bengaluru booked their place in the IPL 2026 playoffs after defeating Punjab Kings by 23 runs on Sunday, and Virat Kohli made sure fans got both entertainment and a match-winning performance.
The RCB star appeared in a cheerful mood throughout the contest in Dharamsala, smashing a fluent half-century and sharing a hilarious moment with PBKS spinner Harpreet Brar that quickly went viral on social media.
Virat Kohli’s Funny Exchange With Harpreet Brar Goes Viral
The amusing incident took place during RCB’s innings when Kohli nudged the ball towards backward point and initially considered taking a single. However, spotting Harpreet Brar close to the ball, he decided against the run.
𝐏𝐞𝐚𝐤 𝐕𝐢𝐫𝐚𝐭 𝐊𝐨𝐡𝐥𝐢 𝐨𝐧 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐲! 🤭
— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) May 17, 2026
Just a Punjabi boy having some pure fun against the Punjab side 🤩#TATAIPL Race to Playoffs 2026 👉 #PBKSvRCB | LIVE NOW ➡️ https://t.co/OJhb8ljCPI pic.twitter.com/bNtBk8sjjy
What followed drew loud cheers from the Dharamsala crowd.
Even though Kohli was outside his crease, Brar chose not to throw the ball towards the striker’s end in an attempt to run him out. Sensing the playful moment, Kohli intentionally remained outside the crease and stared at Brar jokingly, almost teasing him to attempt the dismissal.
The light-hearted exchange left fans laughing, and Kohli was later seen making a funny gesture toward batting partner Devdutt Padikkal.
Kohli, Venkatesh Iyer Power RCB To Big Total
After being invited to bat first, RCB posted a massive 222/4 in 20 overs.
Virat Kohli continued his excellent form with a brisk 58 off 37 balls, anchoring the innings before Venkatesh Iyer produced a stunning unbeaten knock of 73 runs to take the defending champions past the 220-run mark.
The duo’s aggressive batting put Punjab Kings under pressure from the very beginning.
Bhuvneshwar Leads RCB Bowling Effort
In reply, Punjab Kings fought hard but could only manage 199/8 despite late resistance from Marcus Stoinis, who scored 37, and Shashank Singh, who slammed 56.
RCB’s bowling attack, led by Bhuvneshwar Kumar, kept the scoring in check during the crucial middle overs and ensured the side sealed victory comfortably.
The result helped Bengaluru become the first team to officially qualify for the IPL 2026 playoffs while also strengthening their hold on the top position in the points table.
Punjab Kings’ Playoff Chances Take Massive Hit
For Punjab Kings, the defeat marked their sixth consecutive loss after a promising start to the season that included six wins and one no-result.
Last season’s runners-up are now no longer in complete control of their playoff destiny and will need favourable results in remaining matches to stay alive in the competition.