Kamal Ghorui
NEW DELHI: A clash featuring two of India’s modern-day greats rarely disappoints, and Sunday’s IPL 2026 showdown at the Wankhede Stadium delivered a moment fans will cherish beyond the result.As Virat Kohli walked out to bat, fully focused with his bat resting on his shoulder, he was called over by Rohit Sharma from the field. What followed was a brief yet heartwarming interaction between the two icons — a quick meet-and-greet that instantly went viral, drawing admiration across social media.The gesture, filled with mutual respect and camaraderie, became one of the standout moments of the match, reminding fans of the bond shared by two legends who have defined an era of Indian cricket.WATCH:Injury concerns for Kohli and RohitBoth stalwarts made their presence felt in the contest. Kohli anchored Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s innings with a composed 50 off 38 balls, while Rohit looked fluent during his 19 off 13 balls before being forced to retire hurt due to a hamstring issue.In a twist of symmetry, Kohli too did not take the field during MI’s chase after sustaining an ankle concern, adding a layer of worry for both teams despite the high-profile clash living up to expectations.Salt, Patidar power RCB to massive totalRCB’s batting dominance was led by Phil Salt, who smashed a blistering 78 off 36 balls, sharing a 120-run opening stand with Kohli. Skipper Rajat Patidar then took over, hammering 53 off just 20 balls, while Tim David finished strongly with an unbeaten 34.“The way Virat and Salt started the innings, I think that kept us in the driving seat… it was a pure team effort,” Patidar said after the match.RCB piled up a formidable 240/4, putting MI under immediate pressure.MI fall short despite late fightMI’s chase began brightly but lost momentum after Rohit’s early exit. Suyash Sharma struck crucial blows, while Suryakumar Yadav (33) and Hardik Pandya (40) tried to revive hopes.“I think… we’ve been catching up in the game rather than leading the game,” Pandya admitted.A late unbeaten 71 from Sherfane Rutherford, including four sixes in the final over, wasn’t enough as MI finished on 222/5.
