The Punjab Kings (PBKS) endured a nightmare outing against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the first qualifier of the IPL 2025, as their batting lineup collapsed miserably at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Stadium in Mullanpur on Thursday.
After RCB skipper Rajat Patidar won the toss and elected to bowl, the visitors ran riot with the ball, bundling out PBKS for a paltry 101 in just 14.1 overs.Yash Dayal set the tone early, dismissing Priyansh Arya for 7 off 5 deliveries. From there, the floodgates opened. Prabhsimran Singh tried to fight back with a quick 18 off 10, but Bhuvneshwar Kumar soon sent him packing. Josh Hazlewood then added to the misery by removing Shreyas Iyer for just 2 runs.
PBKS were reeling at 50/5 by the 6.3-over mark, with no sign of recovery in sight.Anushka Sharma’s priceless reaction goes viralAmidst the chaos, it was Virat Kohli’s animated celebration that grabbed major attention online. The former RCB skipper, known for his passion and intensity, was visibly overjoyed when Musheer Khan’s dismissal was upheld after a DRS review in RCB’s favour. As the decision was flashed on the big screen, Kohli erupted in delight, pumping his fists and roaring in jubilation.
Adding to the moment was the reaction of Kohli’s wife and Bollywood actress Anushka Sharma, who was spotted in the stands. Her candid response to Kohli’s celebration, smiling and clapping with visible pride, was caught on camera and soon went viral across social media platforms. Fans couldn’t get enough of the couple’s chemistry, with hashtags like #KohliAnushka and #Virushka trending shortly after the video surfaced on Twitter.
RCB take control of IPL 2025 PlayoffsWith this dominating bowling performance, RCB have taken a giant stride toward the IPL 2025 final, leaving PBKS with much to ponder. The Bengaluru bowlers never allowed the hosts to build any momentum, executing their plans with clinical precision.
As fans await RCB’s chase in the second innings, the internet continues to buzz, not just with cricket, but with another memorable Virat-Anushka moment that lit up the playoffs.