Royal Challengers Bengaluru batter Virat Kohli was seen teasing Shubman Gill as the Gujarat Titans were posing for the team picture during IPL 2026 Qualifier 1 clash. The defending champions took on the Gill-led Titans in what can be called the crackerjack of the season at HPCA Stadium in Dharamsala on Tuesday, May 26. The game saw Gill winning the toss and inviting the rival to put the score on the board first.
Ahead of the first innings, Kohli was seen in his funny element, where he was seen teasing the rival skipper with animated gestures while the Titans were posing for a team picture. Fans have always admired the cricketer’s casual and unconventional attitude and needless to say, this sight also came in as a treat for the Virat Kohli Ultras.
Notably, one such video of Kohli teasing Gill for his beardwent viral a couple of days ago from the same venue as both teams engaged in practice sessions before the big game.
Virat Kohli Teasing Shubman Gill Before The Start Of The 1st Innings.😂❤️ pic.twitter.com/9s1Vg3vdbV
— virat_kohli_18_club (@KohliSensation) May 26, 2026
RCB dismantle GT’s batting order after dominating the field in first innings
While the Royal Challengers didn’t get the start of their dreams against the Titans in the first innings, crucial knocks by Kohli, Krunal Pandya, and skipper Rajat Patidar helped the side post a mammoth total of 254-5, making history as the highest total in the playoffs. The Titans were still hopeful of bouncing back with the bat, but the Red and Black Brigade had different plans. RCB bowling line up studded with names like Jacob Duffy, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Rasikh Salam Dar, among others showed absolute no mercy and dismantled the GT batting lineup brutally.
Openers Sai Sudharsan and Shubman Gill were forced to walk back on 14 runs and 2 runs, respectively, while Jos Buttler and Nishant Sindhu could manage to post 29 runs and 5 runs, respectively. In addition to them, Washington Sundar contributed 5 runs while Jason Holder had to walk back at a three-ball duck. The 2022 IPL champions were reduced to 51-5 within powerplay. As of writing, they were batting at 67-6 in 9.3 overs.
