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Royal Challengers Bengaluru's star batter Virat Kohli was seen engaging in a bit of banter with Punjab Kings' left-arm spinner Harpreet Brar during the two teams' IPL 2026 clash on Sunday.
The clash is important for both teams as RCB will qualify for the playoffs with a win, while Punjab Kings have to avoid slipping to a sixth consecutive loss.
Virat Kohli eggs on Harpreet Brar
The incident took place during the ninth over of RCB's innings in Dharamsala. During the penultimate delivery of the over bowled by Azmatuallah Omarazai, Virat Kohli played a cut towards the backward point region and set off for a single.
Harpreet Brar managed to field the ball near the 30-yard circle, but Kohli stayed out of his crease as he returned halfway without completing the single. Kohli was seen egging on Brar and challenging him to effect the runout. Brar did not oblige.
— Drizzyat12Kennyat8 (@45kennyat7PM) May 17, 2026
Virat Kohli and Harpreet Brar in IPL 2026
Kohli has been in an amazing run of form in IPL 2026, being RCB's highest run-getter in the tournament.
During the clash against PBKS, he completed the milestone of 500 runs in an IPL season for the ninth time, the most by any batter. In fact, Kohli has crossed the 500-run mark for four seasons in a row now.
With 542 runs in 13 matches, Kohli is currently third on the Orange Cap list. Against Punjab, he played a useful hand of 58 runs in 37 balls. His runs have come at an average of 54.2 and a strike rate of almost 165.
Harpreet Brar has not gotten as many chances in IPL 2026, though. He has played just 2 matches this year. He has taken 2 wickets in his matches this year at an average of 30 and an economy rate of 7.50 runs per over.
In the first match versus RR, he went wicketless, while he took 2/35 against RCB, dismissing Jacob Bethell and Devdutt Padikkal.
Brar has historically had an excellent record against the Royal Challengers Bengaluru in IPL history.
RCB and PBKS qualification scenario
The ongoing game in Dharamsala is the thirteenth one in this year's league stage for both RCB and Punjab.
RCB are in an excellent position to make the playoffs and will need just one win to confirm qualification. If they lose both, RCB will have to depend on other results to make the last four. If they win one and lose one, RCB will make the playoffs, but they will depend on other results to stay in the top two.
Table toppers RCB have the best NRR in the league, and that will be a big boost for them.
Punjab Kings have lost five in a row after going 7 matches unbeaten. Punjab will need to win both their remaining matches in order to control their destiny in the last four. Losing another match will mean that the Kings will have to win the other one and still depend on other results to make the top four.
End of over 16 (14 runs)
Marcus Stoinis lbw b J Hazlewood 37 (25) Josh Hazlewood to Marcus Stoinis, no run, lbw b J Hazlewood, Out LBW !! fast ball, fulltoss, on the stumps, Marcus Stoinis hangs in the crease, takes a big risk to chunk it away, but unfortunately, mistimes it, and the ball hits the pad, and Josh Hazlewood appeals for an LBW, which is given by the umpire. Marcus Stoinis has to go back.
Josh Hazlewood to Azmatullah Omarzai, no run, Dot ball !! fast ball, good length, on the off stump, Azmatullah Omarzai goes back and tucks defensive shot toward the fielder, who halts the ball.
Josh Hazlewood to Azmatullah Omarzai, 1 run, An accurately pitched inswinger on the stumps, Azmatullah Omarzai goes back to make a confident pull, sending the ball towards deep square leg for 1 run.
Josh Hazlewood to Shashank Singh, 1 run, An accurately pitched fast ball on the stumps, Shashank Singh goes back to make a confident flick shot, sending the ball towards deep fine leg for 1 run.
Josh Hazlewood to Azmatullah Omarzai, 1 run, fast ball, yorker, on the stumps, Azmatullah Omarzai goes forward to make a room for himself and hits it towards point for 1 run.
Josh Hazlewood to Shashank Singh, 4 leg bye, Leg Bye !! fast ball, fulltoss, on the leg stump, Shashank Singh hangs in the crease, aims to play flick shot, but ball direclty brushes against the body. Batter snatch 4 runs off leg bye.
End of over 17 (7 runs)
Bhuvneshwar Kumar to Azmatullah Omarzai, 1 run, An accurately pitched fast ball on the off stump, Azmatullah Omarzai goes forward to make a confident push, sending the ball towards deep mid wicket for 1 run.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar to Shashank Singh, Four, Four !! bouncer, back of length, on the off stump. Shashank Singh hangs in the crease, hits uppercut in the gap towards third man, and ball finds the ropes in a flash for four.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar to Shashank Singh, no run, Dot Ball !! bouncer, back of length, on the off stump, and Shashank Singh hangs on and tries to hit cut, but misses it completely as ball beats the bat, goes to the keeper.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar to Shashank Singh, Four, Four !! fast ball, yorker, on the off stump. Shashank Singh hangs in the crease, hits flick shot in the gap towards deep square leg, and ball finds the ropes in a flash for four.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar to Shashank Singh, 1 run, fast ball, yorker, on the off stump, Shashank Singh goes back to make a room for himself and hits it towards deep mid wicket for 1 run.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar to Azmatullah Omarzai, Six, Six !! What a delivery! fast ball lands right on the stumps, Azmatullah Omarzai hangs in the crease, exhibits impeccable timing as batter hammers inside out shot sending it flying to the deep cover region for a remarkable Maximum!
End of over 18 (16 runs)
Josh Hazlewood to Shashank Singh, 1 run, An accurately pitched fast ball on the off stump, Shashank Singh goes back to make a confident pull, but gets an edge, and the ball goes towards square leg for 1 run.
Josh Hazlewood to Azmatullah Omarzai, no run, Dot ball !! fast ball, full length, on the off stump, Josh Hazlewood sends down a delivery outside the off stump, and Azmatullah Omarzai hangs in the crease and watches it closely, deciding to let ball go to the keeper.
Josh Hazlewood to Azmatullah Omarzai, Four, Four !! fast ball, yorker, on the stumps. Azmatullah Omarzai goes forward and tries inside out shot, edged!! in the gap towards third man, and ball finds the ropes in a flash for four.
Josh Hazlewood to Azmatullah Omarzai, no run, Dot Ball !! bouncer, back of length, on the off stump, and Azmatullah Omarzai hangs on and tries to hit pull, but misses it completely as ball beats the bat, goes to the keeper.
Josh Hazlewood to Azmatullah Omarzai, 1 run, Azmatullah Omarzai goes back and plays a well-timed flick shot off an fast ball delivers at a yorker by the bowler, but the ball lands safely in the hands of the fielder at deep mid wicket for 1 run.
Josh Hazlewood to Shashank Singh, 1 run, Shashank Singh goes back and plays a well-timed pull off an fast ball delivers at a fulltoss by the bowler, but the ball lands safely in the hands of the fielder at deep mid wicket for 1 run.
End of over 19 (7 runs)
Rasikh Dar Salam to Shashank Singh, 1 wide, bouncer, short length, on the off stump, An attempted bouncer misses the mark and sails high over Shashank Singh's head, Umpire Calls it a wide.
Rasikh Dar Salam to Shashank Singh, 2 runs, Shashank Singh hangs in the crease and plays a well-timed helicopter shot off an fast ball delivers at a full length by the bowler, but the ball lands safely in the hands of the fielder at deep mid wicket for 2 runs.
Rasikh Dar Salam to Shashank Singh, 1 wide, Wide Ball !! fast ball fulltoss on the leg stump, That sails wide of the leg-stump, leaving Shashank Singh with no chance to make contact. The umpire calls it a wide.
Shashank Singh c V Kohli b RD Salam 56 (27) Rasikh Dar Salam to Shashank Singh, no run, c V Kohli b RD Salam, Caught out !! fast ball, full length, on the stumps, Shashank Singh hangs in the crease, tries a high-risk shot towards deep mid wicket, but the ball finds safe hands of Virat Kohli, who makes no mistake in taking the catch. Shashank Singh is out.
Rasikh Dar Salam to Harpreet Brar, no run, Dot Ball !! bouncer, back of length, on the off stump, and Harpreet Brar hangs on and tries to hit pull, but misses it completely as ball beats the bat, goes to the keeper.
Rasikh Dar Salam to Harpreet Brar, Four, Four !! fast ball, full length, on the off stump, Harpreet Brar elegantly hangs in the crease into the shot, gracefully guides it to third man region, the ball speeds away and finds the boundary rope.
Rasikh Dar Salam to Harpreet Brar, 1 run, Harpreet Brar hangs in the crease to take fast ball of yorker aimed on the off stump, executing a textbook , edged!! and the ball sails towards short fine leg for 1 run.
Azmatullah Omarzai c TH David b RD Salam 14 (10) Rasikh Dar Salam to Azmatullah Omarzai, no run, c TH David b RD Salam, Caught out !! fast ball, good length, on the off stump, Azmatullah Omarzai goes forward, tries a high-risk shot towards long off, but the ball finds safe hands of Tim David, who makes no mistake in taking the catch. Azmatullah Omarzai is out.
End of over 20 (9 runs)