IPL 2026 [WATCH]: Virat Kohli brings back old-school aggression with animated send-off to Shubman Gill in GT vs RCB encounter

The Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad witnessed a spectacle of high-octane drama and elite athleticism on Thursday, as locked horns with Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the 42nd match of IPL 2026. While the scoreboard favoured the hosts, the headlines were dominated by a vintage moment that took fans back to the peak of the Kohli-era intensity.

Virat Kohli delivers fiery send-off to Shubman Gill after sharp catch in GT vs RCB clash

In a chase of 155, GT skipper Shubman Gill came out like a man possessed, threatening to wrap the game up within the Powerplay. He decimated the RCB pace duo of Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Josh Hazlewood, racing to a blistering 43 off just 18 balls. However, the momentum shifted on the final delivery of the fifth over.

Attempting an aggressive uppish drive off a length ball from Bhuvneshwar, Gill failed to find the necessary elevation. Waiting at cover was Virat Kohli, who reacted with lightning reflexes to pouch a sharp catch near his neck. What followed was absolute cinema.

Known for his old-school aggression, Kohli didn’t just celebrate; he unleashed a roar that echoed through the Ahmedabad air. He stared down the departing GT captain, slammed the ball into the turf with immense force, and mouthed a fired-up “Come on!” as the ‘Prince’ of Indian cricket walked back. The clip instantly broke the internet, with fans hailing the return of the ‘Vintage King’ energy. Despite the intense exchange, Kohli was later seen smiling at the big screen replay of his own antics, reminding everyone that while the fire remains, he’s enjoying every bit of the theatre.

Here’s the video:

Vintage #ViratKohli energy! 🔥

KING catches, PRINCE departs – Absolute cinema! 🙌 🎯#TATAIPL 2026 ➡️ #GTvRCB | LIVE NOW 👉https://t.co/K8vuSzrZ1d pic.twitter.com/jCKi1Qo4zA

— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) April 30, 2026

Jason Holder’s all-round brilliance takes GT home against RCB in IPL 2026

Despite Kohli’s spirited effort, the night belonged to Jason Holder, whose Man of the Match performance silenced the RCB faithful. Earlier in the evening, RCB’s batting lineup crumbled under the pressure of GT’s disciplined attack. Although Jacob Bethell (55 off 13) and Devdutt Padikkal (40 off 24) provided some resistance, the middle order vanished.

Holder was the architect of this collapse, finishing with bowling figures of 2/29 and taking three exceptional catches, including the pivotal dismissal of RCB skipper Rajat Patidar. Supported by Arshad Khan (3/22) and the ever-economical Rashid Khan (2/19), GT bundled out RCB for a modest 155 in 19.2 overs.

The chase was clinical. Following Gill’s explosive start, Jos Buttler added a quickfire 39, and even a late triple-strike by Bhuvneshwar (3/28) couldn’t derail the Titans. Rahul Tewatia (27 off 17) and Holder (12 off 10) applied the finishing touches, guiding GT to a 4-wicket victory with 25 balls to spare. This win boosts GT to 10 points, keeping their playoff hopes alive in a highly competitive 2026 season.

Also WATCH: Virat Kohli gets furious over Jason Holder’s controversial catch in GT vs RCB IPL 2026 match