The enduring friendship between Indian cricket stars Virat Kohli and Ishant Sharma was on full display during the IPL 2026 clash between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Gujarat Titans. The duo, who have played together since their childhood days in Delhi and later represented India, share a long-standing bond that was evident as they met on the field.
During the match, Kohli and Ishant were seen catching up near the boundary ropes, sharing a warm hug, cracking jokes, and enjoying a light-hearted moment. A video of their interaction quickly went viral on social media, showing Ishant, wearing a bib over his Gujarat Titans jersey, standing alongside Kohli in cheerful conversation.
Controversial Catch Sparks Debate
However, the match also witnessed a dramatic and controversial moment with Kohli at the center of it. He was seen questioning the fourth umpire after a contentious catch by Jason Holder led to the dismissal of RCB captain Rajat Patidar.
The incident occurred at a crucial stage of the first innings when RCB were looking to build a solid platform. In the eighth over, Patidar, batting on 19, attempted a pull shot to accelerate the scoring. Holder reacted quickly, diving forward to complete a low catch, while Kagiso Rabada also closed in, nearly resulting in a collision between the two fielders.
Replays appeared inconclusive on whether the ball had touched the ground. Despite the uncertainty, the third umpire upheld the decision after review, and Patidar was given out. The call left Kohli and the RCB camp visibly unhappy at a key moment in the match.
Match Summary
Gujarat Titans eventually sealed a tense four-wicket win over defending champions RCB. GT bowled RCB out for 155 in 19.2 overs before chasing down the target in 15.5 overs. Shubman Gill (43 off 18), Jos Buttler (39 off 19), and Rahul Tewatia (27* off 17) led the charge with the bat.
Despite the loss, RCB remained second on the points table with 12 points, while Gujarat Titans stayed fifth but moved to 10 points with the win.
The match highlighted both the camaraderie among players and the intense competition in IPL 2026, with Kohli's friendship with Ishant providing a heartwarming contrast to the on-field drama.
