Royal Challengers Bengaluru stalwart Virat Kohli met Gujarat Titans skipper Shubman Gill ahead of their IPL 2026 Qualifier 1 showdown at the HPCA Stadium in Dharamsala on Tuesday. A clip doing the rounds online shows Gill first speaking with RCB vice-captain Jitesh Sharma before Kohli walked into view. The moment Gill spotted his idol, he moved in and the pair exchanged a friendly hug.
Kohli then added a playful touch, teasing the young GT captain by adjusting his beard and pulling his cheek. In the same footage, Kohli is also seen carrying a black tote bag, a detail that has since helped the video spread widely across social media. The warm interaction has drawn plenty of reaction from fans, with many highlighting the contrast between Kohli’s iconic status and Gill’s evident excitement.
Quick facts
- Qualifier 1: RCB vs GT at HPCA Stadium, Dharamsala on Tuesday
- RCB batting tally this season: Virat Kohli has 557 runs in 14 group-stage matches
- Kohli’s milestone: 1 century and 4 half-centuries in the ongoing IPL 2026
- Orange Cap race: Shubman Gill is second with 616 runs in 14 matches
- Orange Cap leader: Sai Sudharsan has 638 runs for Gujarat Titans
- Playoffs confirmed: RCB, GT, Sunrisers Hyderabad already qualified; Rajasthan Royals joined the top four after beating Mumbai Indians
- RR’s entry: 30-run win over Mumbai Indians at Wankhede Stadium on Sunday
- Final date and venue: the title match is scheduled in Ahmedabad on May 31
- Eliminator: Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Rajasthan Royals on Wednesday
The numbers behind the hype are just as compelling. Kohli is currently at the top of RCB’s batting charts in IPL 2026, having piled up 557 runs across 14 group-stage appearances. The 37-year-old has already reached the three-figure mark once and added four more scores in the half-century range during the tournament.
Gill, meanwhile, is in the thick of the Orange Cap chase. He sits second among the leading run-getters with 616 runs from 14 matches, trailing only his Gujarat Titans teammate Sai Sudharsan, who has 638. With the business end of the competition approaching, both batters will be keen to carry their form into the knockout rounds.
Playoff picture set for IPL 2026
All four teams for the IPL 2026 playoffs have now been confirmed. Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Gujarat Titans and Sunrisers Hyderabad had already secured their places in the next stage, while Rajasthan Royals completed the set via their successful run chase of the qualification window.
Rajasthan Royals booked their spot in the final four with a 30-run win over Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede Stadium on Sunday. That result ensured RR would join the other three teams in the knockout bracket.
With the stage set, RCB will take on GT in the first qualifier on Tuesday, and the side that comes out on top will move directly into the final. The championship match is scheduled to be played in Ahmedabad on May 31.
Wednesday brings the eliminator, where Sunrisers Hyderabad will meet Rajasthan Royals. In that match, the stakes are immediate: the losing team is eliminated from the tournament, while the winner advances to the second qualifier with another route to the title still open.
