Ravichandran Ashwin couldn’t help himself after watching Virat Kohli’s ferocious, almost cinematic celebrations during IPL 2026 Qualifier 1. In Dharamsala, defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru delivered a convincing statement as they overwhelmed Gujarat Titans by 92 runs, securing their spot in the final. Bengaluru’s day started with a commanding batting display—254/5—before their bowlers completely shut the door on GT, bowling them out for 162 in 19.3 overs.
Skipper Rajat Patidar set the tone for RCB’s chase-free triumph, producing a stunning unbeaten 93 from just 33 deliveries to steal the spotlight. Yet Ashwin found himself just as drawn to Kohli’s intensity while the match swung through Gujarat’s top-order collapse. On his YouTube channel, the former India spinner described Kohli’s reaction to wickets in a humorous, emphatic way, noting how the captain seemed to celebrate each breakthrough with the same level of urgency.
“Did you see Virat’s celebrations when the first four wickets fell? Pehle 4 wicket usne hi liya hai [It looked like he had taken those four wickets]. Where do you get that kind of intensity from? 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 really enjoyed it,” Ashwin said, before adding even stronger praise for Kohli’s energy levels. He went on to claim that Kohli’s mindset and motivation were beyond normal standards, saying, “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.”
On the field, Kohli had already provided Bengaluru with the early spark. After RCB were asked to bat first, he raced to 43 off 25 balls, helping the innings settle quickly. Kohli then built a 72-run partnership with Devdutt Padikkal, giving RCB a platform to accelerate. That momentum didn’t last for long, though—GT struck back sharply when Jason Holder dismissed both established batters in the space of three deliveries, briefly pulling the game back towards Gujarat.
However, Patidar and Krunal Pandya changed the tempo decisively. Together, they hammered 95 runs off only 47 balls, turning pressure into punishment. Gujarat’s fielding and missed opportunities proved costly, and as the innings tightened, the Titans struggled to keep up with the pace and power of RCB’s counterattack.
Ashwin also singled out Krunal for special mention, underlining how the all-rounder again delivered when the match demanded it most. After RCB had lost some rhythm for a short spell, Krunal finished the innings with a valuable 43 from 28 balls, reinforcing his reputation for producing in high-stakes knockout situations. In typical Ashwin style, he added a playful line to cap it off: “Don’t call 108 in case of an emergency; call Krunal Pandya.”
Once Bengaluru set the target, their bowlers ensured Gujarat would not recover. Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Josh Hazlewood and Rasikh Salam combined to dismantle GT’s batting order, reducing them to 51/5 within the powerplay. After the loss, GT captain Shubman Gill acknowledged that his team fell apart under pressure, particularly in the field, where the control and composure were missing. Even though impact substitute Rahul Tewatia battled hard with 68, it could only trim the defeat margin rather than change the outcome.
With the emphatic win, RCB moved one step closer to defending their IPL crown. The team will now travel to the Narendra Modi Stadium for the final on May 31, carrying forward the momentum of a dominant all-round performance in Dharamsala.
