Virat Kohli and Shubman Gill added a dose of theatre to IPL 2026 during Gujarat Titans’ match against Royal Challengers Bengaluru at Ahmedabad on Thursday, with a viral moment that quickly became the talk of social media. The clip shows Kohli teasing Gill after taking a catch at extra cover, punctuating the exchange with what many fans interpreted as a “snake” gesture. Gill, who was seated in the dugout after being dismissed, appeared to respond with a pointed look toward the scoreboard—turning the on-field incident into a playful back-and-forth that spread across platforms within hours.
Key takeaways
- The viral exchange happened in the IPL 2026 clash between Gujarat Titans and Royal Challengers Bengaluru in Ahmedabad on Thursday.
- Kohli was seen making a “snake” gesture after taking Gill’s catch at extra cover.
- Gill’s reaction included a visible point toward the scoreboard, which fans read as a cheeky retort.
- Gujarat Titans’ chase of 156 was powered by Gill’s 43 off 18 balls in the powerplay.
- Gujarat finished with a target of 156 effectively defended by restricting RCB to 111/5 at one stage, with Tewatia playing a key closing role.
Banter turns into a viral moment
In the widely shared video, Kohli is captured teasing Gill immediately after the dismissal, with the gesture drawing instant reactions from viewers. Fans argued that the “snake” sign was directed at Gill, who had already walked back and was watching from the dugout. When the camera shifted back to Gill, he was seen pointing his finger toward the scoreboard, a reaction many supporters believed was a light-hearted jab in return—especially given that GT held a commanding position at that point in the contest.
The clip also sparked a flurry of commentary online, with several users framing the moment as an extension of the friendly competitiveness between two India internationals. One theme repeatedly surfaced: Kohli brought the showmanship, while Gill appeared ready with the “receipt” through his response and, later, through his impact in the chase.
What Gill and fans said about the exchange and the chase
Fans were quick to connect the on-field banter with the larger narrative around Gill’s rise in Indian cricket. Gill has often been discussed as Kohli’s likely successor, and the 25-year-old has already taken on full-time leadership responsibilities across India’s Test and ODI setups.
With Gujarat chasing 156 against Kohli’s RCB, Gill led from the front. He struck a rapid 43 off just 18 deliveries, breaking the rhythm of the chase early and effectively putting the game on course during the powerplay. Even though RCB fought back at stages to keep things under check—limiting GT to 111/5 at one point—the momentum created by Gill’s cameo proved decisive. For the defending champions, the comeback ultimately wasn’t enough, leaving them short of the finish line.
Speaking about his batting approach, Gill said he felt “in the zone” and was looking to take on the bowlers. He also credited Rahul Tewatia for the way the finish was handled, while acknowledging that the side lost a few additional wickets compared to what they might have wanted. Gill added that the team still benefited from contributions throughout the lineup.
He summed up his feelings and the chase in these words: “Feels very satisfying. On a wicket like this, restricting them to under 160 was a tremendous job by the bowlers. Our fielding was one of the things… in phases, we have not fielded well. Energy in the field was very nice. (On his batting) I was just feeling I was in the zone. Felt it is my day and wanted to take the bowlers on. (On Tewatia) He is a very important player, happy he finished the game. We lost couple more wickets than we would have liked. He got some nice runs and everyone got a hit in the middle.”
