Cricket has a special way of pulling emotion to the surface, and on match days that intensity isn’t limited to the stands—it’s often written all over the players’ faces as well. For many fans, one name instantly stands out when it comes to fierce energy and unfiltered passion: Virat Kohli. Once again, Kohli’s animated celebrations lit up the cameras as Royal Challengers Bengaluru crushed Gujarat Titans by 92 runs in Qualifier 1 of the 2026 Indian Premier League, a performance that also stirred memories of the days when he captained in the longest format for India with the same fire and intent.
RCB’s dominant Qualifier 1 and route to the final
RCB turned in a complete show, overpowering Gujarat Titans across departments to secure a second consecutive spot in the IPL final as they bid to defend their title on May 31. The Rajat Patidar-led side set the tone early and then backed it up with control at the back end of the innings, making sure the opposition never truly got a foothold while defending a huge total of 254.
Kohli’s celebrations as GT’s top order crumbled
One of the biggest talking points from the match was the way Kohli reacted when Gujarat’s in-form top-order batters started falling. With early wickets of Sai Sudharsan and Shubman Gill, Kohli’s celebration style stood out—so much so that former India spinner and analyst Ravichandran Ashwin singled it out while watching the bowling unit defend the mammoth score.
- GT lost wickets early, including those of Sai Sudharsan and Shubman Gill, and Kohli celebrated the first four dismissals with visible intensity.
- Ashwin highlighted how Kohli’s reactions made it look as though he had personally taken each wicket, stressing the level of emotion behind every celebration.
- Ashwin’s point was that Kohli’s mindset made every wicket feel personal, adding another layer to RCB’s defensive effort after posting 254.
Ashwin breaks down the emotion behind the wickets
Speaking during his interaction on YouTube, Ashwin delivered a mix of praise and humour while describing what stood out to him about Kohli’s body language. The former spinner emphasised that Kohli’s celebrations weren’t just routine—each dismissal carried weight, as if the wicket belonged to him.
“Did you see Virat’s celebrations when the first four wickets fell? Pehle 4 wicket usne hi liya hai [It seemed like he had taken those four wickets]. From where do you get this kind of intensity? Har jo wicket hai, tera wicket jaisa kaise celebrate kar raha hai yaar? (How can you celebrate every wicket like it’s your wicket?) I enjoyed it a lot,” Ashwin said.
Ashwin also linked the emotion to the bigger storyline around the franchise. RCB’s push for another championship comes after their maiden IPL title in 2025, which ended Kohli’s long wait that had stretched for 18 years—after runner-up finishes in 2009, 2011, and 2016.
Energy, legacy, and Kohli’s current form
Ashwin, who once shared the dressing room with Virat during their international days, went further in describing why Kohli’s on-field presence is so hard to match. He spoke about the intensity that sets Kohli apart, using strong words to capture the difference he feels between Kohli and everyone else.
“Woh insaan nahi 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,” Ashwin hailed Kohli.
The admiration isn’t surprising given the successful partnership the two enjoyed in different roles. In Test cricket, Ashwin was Kohli’s primary strike bowler, claiming 293 wickets under Kohli’s captaincy—the highest tally by any bowler under a single captain in Test history. Kohli, in turn, celebrated those wickets as if he had directly played a part, underscoring the trust, intensity, and commitment he brings to team success.
That same relentless passion continues to define Kohli’s game, even as he moves through his late 30s. The 37-year-old appears to be aging in the best way—carrying the same aggressive mindset into both batting and fielding. He is currently enjoying one of his strongest IPL seasons, with a clear improvement in strike rate. Kohli has scored 600 runs at nearly 165 strike rate, which is his best number since his debut for RCB in 2008.
- RCB’s Qualifier 1 win came by 92 runs, taking them into the IPL 2026 final.
- Kohli helped RCB cruise into the final with a crucial 43 off 25 balls against GT.
- In this IPL season, Kohli has produced 600 runs at close to a 165 strike rate—his best since joining RCB in 2008.
- RCB are aiming to defend their title on May 31 after securing a consecutive final spot.
