Watch: Virat Kohli blows flying kiss to Anushka Sharma after RCB’s dominant win
Virat Kohli's unbeaten 69 powered Royal Challengers Bengaluru to a six-wicket victory over Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL 2026 opener. Kohli's stellar performance, coupled with a romantic gesture towards wife Anushka Sharma, captivated fans. Devdutt Padikkal's quickfire 61 also proved crucial in the successful chase, while Ishan Kishan's 80 wasn't enough for SRH.
NEW DELHI: It was a night of dominance, emotion and a touch of romance as Virat Kohli lit up the IPL 2026 opener — both with the bat and a heartwarming gesture towards wife Anushka Sharma. Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!
After steering Royal Challengers Bengaluru to a commanding six-wicket win over Sunrisers Hyderabad, Kohli turned towards the stands and blew a flying kiss to Anushka. The Bollywood star, seated alongside RCB Women’s players including captain Smriti Mandhana, responded with her own flying kiss and a smile as the crowd erupted in cheers. The brief exchange quickly went viral, becoming one of the defining images of the season opener and adding a personal touch to an already electric evening at the M.
Chinnaswamy Stadium. WATCH: — IPL (@IPL) Kohli, Padikkal power RCB’s clinical chase Kohli showcased his enduring class with an unbeaten 69 off 38 balls, laced with five fours and five sixes, as RCB chased down a daunting 202 in just 15. 4 overs.
Reflecting on his return to T20 cricket after a long break, Kohli said, “Whenever I come back to play, it's 120 percent. I'm not coming back underprepared, in fact, the extra rest helps me mentally freshen up. ” He added, “You don't want to just hold on to a spot; you want to keep performing and keep putting in the work for the team.