‘Bhaiya Aapko Nahi Bol Raha’: How RR Spinner Avoided Altercation With Virat Kohli And Instead Earned His Praise

Last Updated:April 14, 2025, 13:52 IST

There was a tense moment between Kumar Kartikeya and Virat Kohli but the Rajasthan Royals spinner kept his calm and avoided any altercation.

Virat Kohli (center) shakes hands with Kumar Kartikeya. (BCCI Photo)

Rajasthan Royals endured a nine-wicket thrashing at the hands of Royal Challengers Bengaluru in their first home game of IPL 2025 in Jaipur. Left-arm spinner Kumar Kartikeya was the only RR bowler who picked up a wicket as the visitors chased down the target of 174 comfortably at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium on Sunday.

Kartikeya, who came in as an Impact Sub, accounted for RCB opener Phil Salt who struck a blistering half-century to lay the base of an easy win. Salt ended up holing out in the deep after trying to muscle away short length delivery for a big shot.

Salt scored 65 off 33 and as he began his walk back to the RCB dug-out, Kohli shook hands with Kartikeya to congratulate him on the dismissal.

Later, the RR spinner revealed what prompted the praise from the RCB batting superstar.

“When Phil Salt hit me for a six, he (Kohli) yelled, ‘Come on!’. We exchanged looks but I stayed quiet. When I got Salt out, then I raised my hands and said, ‘Come on!’. He (Kohli) looked back and told him I am not shouting at you. Then he (Kohli) congratulated me on bowling well,” Kartikeya said in a clip shared by RR on their social media handles.

Kartikeya finished with bowling figures of 1/25 from three overs.

Kohli himself scored a half-century and remained unbeaten on 62 off 45 as RCB win with 15 deliveries to spare. The victory was RCB’s fourth of the season and all have come in away games with the three-time runners-up losing both their home matches so far.

The Rajat Patidar-led outfit is currently third in the standings.

On the other hand, former champions RR have lost four games and recorded two wins in six attempts. They are currently eighth on the table.