- By Namrata Vijay
- Wed, 27 May 2026 06:18 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
RCB vs GT IPL 2026 Qualifier 1: Ex-India cricketer R Ashwin has reacted to Virat Kohli's aggressive celebration in the Qualifier 1 match, where reigning champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru demolished Gujarat Titans by 92 runs and stormed into the summit clash. The Bengaluru-based franchise dominated, amassing a mammoth target of 254 runs before routing the Shubman Gill-led side for just 162.
Although captain Rajat Patidar seized the limelight by smashing a match-winning knock of 93 runs off 33 balls, Ashwin was captivated by Kohli's fiery celebration on the field.
During an interaction on his YouTube channel, Ashwin spotlighted how ferociously Kohli celebrated each wicket in the Gujarat-based franchise's top-order collapse.
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"Did you see Virat's celebration when the first four wickets fell? It was as if he'd taken those four wickets himself. That kind of fiery intensity—where does it come from? Each wicket sent him into ecstatic celebration, like it was his own. I couldn't help but be thrilled," Ashwin said, his voice charged with excitement.
He underscored the almost supernatural energy Kohli brought to the field, saying, "Woh insaan nhi hai. {He is not human}, he is something else. He has come from some other planet. I don't know where he has come from; he is not human," delivering his words with a mix of wonder and disbelief.
Kohli propelled the Rajat Patidar-led side to a flying start, hammering a gritty 43 runs off 25 balls. He also forged a match-winning partnership of 72 runs with Devdutt Padikkal. Still, Jason Holder jolted the Gujarat-based franchise back into contention by removing both these batters within three balls.
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But Patidar and Krunal Pandya resurrected the team. They put on 95 runs off just 47 balls as the GT fielders floundered, dropping catches and piling on the pressure.
Ashwin also applauded Krunal, who yet again shone in a knockout match, rifling a brilliant 43 off 28 balls when the Bengaluru-based franchise was struggling.
Ashwin couldn't hide his admiration, quipping with a laugh, "Don't call 108 in case of any emergency; call Krunal Pandya."
The RCB bowlers suffocated GT's chances of chasing this target. Bhuvaneshwar Kumar, Josh Hazlewood, and Rasikh Salam shattered GT's batting attack, leaving them reeling at 51/5 during the powerplay.
With this emphatic win, the Rajat Patidar-led side stands just one victory away from defending their IPL crown, primed for a passionate battle in the summit clash at the Narendra Modi Stadium later this week.