Reacting to the dismissal, Virat Kohli gave the young Sunrisers Hyderabad batter a fiery send-off.
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Virat Kohli’s Fiery Send-Off Steals the Spotlight in RCB vs SRH Clash
Virat Kohli was at his aggressive best on Friday as Royal Challengers Bangalore faced Sunrisers Hyderabad in Lucknow, in their penultimate league match of IPL 2025. The moment of intensity came in the first innings when SRH opener Abhishek Sharma was dismissed in the fourth over after a quickfire 34 off 17 balls, which included three fours and three sixes.
Lungi Ngidi delivered a full ball on middle and leg, and Abhishek mistimed his flick toward deep backward square leg. Phil Salt judged the ball well and took a clean catch near the boundary, breaking a promising opening stand.
As Abhishek walked off, Kohli gave him a fiery send-off, charging toward the pitch and shouting something in his direction. The young batter chose not to respond, appearing to acknowledge Kohli’s stature in Indian cricket. This dramatic moment followed recent controversy involving Abhishek, who had objected to a send-off celebration from LSG’s Digvesh Rathi just days earlier.
Video of Virat Kohli’s send-off to Abhishek Sharma:
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Virat Kohli’s sudden announcement of his retirement from Test cricket on May 12 stunned fans and experts alike, especially with India’s crucial five-match Test series in England beginning June 20. The news followed closely on the heels of Rohit Sharma and R Ashwin stepping away from the format, leaving India with a largely inexperienced squad for the high-stakes tour.
Reacting to Kohli’s decision, England Test captain Ben Stokes shared a heartfelt message in a video: “I texted him saying it’s going to be a shame not playing against him this time. I love playing against Virat. We’ve always relished the contest because we share the same mindset on the field – it’s a battle.”
Stokes lauded Kohli’s legacy and impact on the game, saying, “What India will miss is his fighting spirit on the field, his competitiveness, his desire to win. He’s made No. 18 his own – we might never see it on the back of another Indian shirt. He’s been pure class for such a long time.” He added, “One thing I’ll always remember about Virat is how hard he hits the ball through the covers – that cover drive will live long in the memory.”