There was relief, laughter and pure emotion written all over Virat Kohli’s face on Tuesday night as the Royal Challengers Bengaluru star finally ended his brief lean patch in IPL 2026. During RCB’s high-pressure encounter against Kolkata Knight Riders at the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium in Raipur, Kohli avoided an unwanted hat-trick of ducks and celebrated the moment in trademark animated style.
Virat Kohli celebrates after getting off the mark in Raipur
After scoring back-to-back ducks coming into the contest, Kohli’s first run of the evening instantly became one of the most talked-about moments of the match. The veteran batter punched the air, laughed at himself and acknowledged the deafening cheers from the crowd, who clearly understood the significance of the moment. The celebration quickly went viral across social media, with fans enjoying a lighter and more relatable side of the usually intense RCB icon.
Notably, Kohli had entered the game under unusual scrutiny despite enjoying an excellent campaign overall. Before the KKR fixture, the former RCB captain had accumulated 379 runs in 11 matches and remained one of Bengaluru’s most dependable batters throughout the tournament.
The 37-year-old had also managed nine consecutive double-digit scores earlier in the season, playing a major role in RCB’s strong run in IPL 2026. However, cricket’s unpredictable nature caught up with him over the last two outings. Following the clash against Lucknow Super Giants, Kohli suffered consecutive ducks and faced only three deliveries combined in those innings. Such a sequence is extremely rare for a batter known for consistency and mental strength, which naturally led to increased conversations around his form.
Here’s the video:
The King is off the mark & the fans can finally relax a bit. 😉#TATAIPL Race To Playoffs 2026 ➡️ #RCBvKKR | LIVE NOW 👉https://t.co/9SHVzm41aO pic.twitter.com/xMUaVlNOuY
— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) May 13, 2026
Aggressive start helps Kohli regain confidence
Against KKR though, Kohli appeared determined to silence the chatter quickly. Chasing a challenging target of 193 alongside young opener Jacob Bethell, Kohli looked far more composed from the beginning. RCB attacked positively during the powerplay, with the senior batter showing better intent and sharper footwork compared to his previous appearances.
But more than the boundaries or strike rotation, it was Kohli’s reaction after scoring his first run that captured the attention of fans. The moment reflected both relief and self-awareness. Kohli laughed immediately after completing the run, almost acknowledging how bizarre the previous two dismissals had been for a player of his stature.
Interestingly, this was not the first time Kohli reacted emotionally after ending a short duck streak. Earlier this year, during India’s ODI tour of Australia, he had produced a very similar celebration after finally getting off the mark following two scoreless outings.
Apart from ending his poor run, the evening also marked another historic achievement in Kohli’s glittering T20 career. The RCB stalwart became the most-capped player in IPL history during the match, making his 279th appearance in the tournament. In doing so, he moved ahead of MS Dhoni and Rohit Sharma, who had previously shared the record with 278 matches each.
