Virat Kohli shines with an unbeaten 69 and shares a flying kiss with Anushka Sharma as Royal Challengers Bengaluru defeat Sunrisers Hyderabad in IPL 2026.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru's Virat Kohli celebrates after winning the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 match against Sunrisers Hyderabad (PC: IANS)
Royal Challengers Bengaluru kicked off their Indian Premier League 2026 campaign in style, but it wasn’t just the win that had fans talking. Virat Kohli added a heartfelt touch to the night, blowing a flying kiss to wife Anushka Sharma after guiding RCB to an emphatic six-wicket victory over Sunrisers Hyderabad.
As the chase neared completion, Kohli turned towards the stands and gestured the kiss to Anushka, who was in attendance alongside Smriti Mandhana and other members of the Indian women’s team. The crowd erupted, adding a memorable, emotional moment to an already electric evening.
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Beautiful video of the day ❤️
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Virat Kohli blowing a flying kiss to Anushka Sharma after winning the match against SRH pic.twitter.com/GdB3cMDu51
— Cricket Buzz (@arshdeep3444) March 29, 2026
Earlier, SRH put up a strong total after being asked to bat first. Skipper Ishan Kishan led the charge with a scintillating 80 off 38 balls, while Aniket Verma provided late fireworks with a quickfire 43 off just 18 deliveries, pushing the total to 201/9. Despite their efforts, RCB bowlers, led by Jacob Duffy’s impressive 3/22 and Romario Shepherd’s three-wicket haul, ensured the damage was contained.
In response, RCB’s batting unit came out with intent. Devdutt Padikkal set the tone early, smashing a blistering 61 off 26 balls, his fastest IPL fifty, before falling to Harsh Dubey.
Kohli then took centre stage.
Returning to T20 cricket after nearly ten months, he looked in complete control, crafting an unbeaten 69 off 38 balls. His knock, filled with trademark elegance and authority, featured crisp drives, effortless flicks, and towering hits as he brought up his 64th IPL fifty.
Also Read: IPL 2026: Kohli finishes on high as RCB outclass SRH in high-scoring opener to begin title defence
Rajat Patidar added the finishing touches with a rapid 31 off 12 balls, as RCB chased down the target with 26 balls to spare.
While the win marked a dominant start to the season, it was Kohli’s mix of class, composure, and a touch of romance that truly defined the night at the Chinnaswamy.
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