The IPL 2026 final belonged to Virat Kohli and Royal Challengers Bengaluru, but one of the most talked-about moments came after the trophy had already been lifted.
Fresh off RCB’s five-wicket win over Gujarat
Titans at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Kohli was spotted sharing a lengthy conversation with Rajasthan Royals sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, creating a moment that quickly spread across social media.
The 15-year-old, who emerged as one of the biggest stories of the season, was watching the final from the stands. Seated alongside prominent cricket administrators including Jay Shah, Sourav Ganguly and Rajeev Shukla, Sooryavanshi was already drawing attention.
But cameras soon caught Kohli walking over to the teenager after the match.
Vaibhav Suryavanshi meeting his idol Virat Kohli . pic.twitter.com/YsFA51Ri9K
— RB. (@KailashVashi) June 1, 2026
A Conversation Nobody Heard But Everyone Noticed
The former RCB captain placed an arm around Sooryavanshi’s shoulder and spent several minutes speaking with him. While the details of the conversation remain unknown, fans were quick to celebrate the interaction between one of Indian cricket’s greatest stars and its newest teenage sensation.
For Sooryavanshi, it was another memorable chapter in a remarkable season.
The gesture also came just a day after Sachin Tendulkar publicly praised the youngster and backed his long-term potential in Test cricket.
This was not the first interaction between Kohli and Sooryavanshi either. Earlier in the tournament, after the teenager launched a fearless assault on RCB’s bowling attack in Guwahati, Kohli signed his cap and gave him an autograph.
A Season To Remember
While the final did not feature Rajasthan Royals, Sooryavanshi still ended the season as one of its biggest winners.
The left-hander amassed a staggering 776 runs, finishing as the tournament’s leading run-scorer and collecting five major awards at the post-season presentation.
He won:
- Most Valuable Player
- Orange Cap
- Emerging Player of the Season
- Super Striker
- Super Sixes of the Season
His tally of 72 sixes set a new IPL record, eclipsing the previous benchmark held by Chris Gayle.
The teenager also became the fastest Indian to reach 1,000 IPL runs and surpassed Rishabh Pant as the youngest player to achieve the milestone.
Despite the accolades, Sooryavanshi remains focused on improvement.
“If I have to stay injury-free, I have to work on my fitness,” he said while speaking to Ravi Shastri. “Everyone is very supportive. All senior players, support staff, everyone backs me, and it’s a good atmosphere.”
