IPL 2026 : Virat Kohli’s heartwarming reaction to Manish Pandey’s stunning catch wins fans over

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The IPL 2026 clash between Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at Raipur delivered plenty of memorable moments, but one particular incident stole the spotlight despite RCB’s comfortable victory. While fans celebrated Virat Kohli’s magnificent unbeaten century, it was the bond and mutual respect shared between Kohli and veteran batter Manish Pandey after an incredible catch that truly captured hearts across social media.

The moment came during the later stages of RCB’s chase when explosive batter Tim David walked in looking to finish the game quickly. Kartik Tyagi delivered a skiddy back-of-a-length ball outside off stump, and David attempted to slash it behind point with power.

However, the ball flew awkwardly towards the backward point where Pandey reacted instantly. Moving sharply to his left, the experienced KKR cricketer launched himself full stretch and completed a breathtaking one-handed catch inches above the turf.

For a few moments, almost everyone on the field appeared stunned. Tyagi stood in disbelief with his hands on his head, while David looked back towards the umpire, hoping the ball might have touched the ground. At the non-striker’s end, Kohli’s reaction said everything. The RCB superstar was left completely speechless, standing with his mouth open while watching the replay unfold on the giant screen.

Although the catch removed his teammate at a crucial stage of the chase, Kohli could not hide his admiration for the sheer brilliance of the effort. Moments after RCB sealed the win, Kohli walked up to Pandey and warmly hugged him while applauding the stunning catch.

The interaction carried extra significance considering the long history shared by the two cricketers. Kohli and Pandey have now been part of the IPL journey for nearly 19 years, having both started their careers during the league’s early era. The duo also shared the dressing room during India’s victorious Under-19 World Cup campaign in 2008, where Kohli captained the side, and Pandey was one of the key members of that talented generation.

Over the years, both players have represented Indian cricket across formats and faced each other countless times in the IPL. Their post-match moment reflected the mutual respect built through years of friendship, competition and shared experiences in Indian cricket.

𝙄𝙨 𝙞𝙩 𝙖 𝙗𝙞𝙧𝙙? 𝙄𝙨 𝙞𝙩 𝙖 𝙥𝙡𝙖𝙣𝙚? 𝙄𝙩'𝙨 𝙈𝙖𝙣𝙞𝙨𝙝 𝙋𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙮 ✈️#ManishPandey catches a blinder to dismiss #TimDavid 🤯#TATAIPL Race To Playoffs 2026 ➡️ #RCBvKKR | LIVE NOW 👉https://t.co/9SHVzm41aO

— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) May 13, 2026

Also READ: IPL 2026: Fans go wild as RCB beat KKR to claim top spot courtesy of Virat Kohli’s stunning century

While Pandey’s catch became one of the defining visuals of the night, the match still belonged to Kohli. The batting superstar silenced recent criticism in style by smashing an unbeaten 105 off just 60 deliveries and guiding RCB to a six-wicket victory with five balls remaining. The innings also took on historic significance as Kohli registered his ninth IPL century and became the first Indian batter to complete 14,000 T20 runs.

Earlier, KKR posted a competitive 192/4 thanks to a brilliant 71 from Angkrish Raghuvanshi and an unbeaten 49 from Rinku Singh. However, RCB’s chase remained under control throughout with strong contributions from Devdutt Padikkal and Kohli leading the way. The win pushed RCB to the top of the IPL 2026 points table and further strengthened their playoff hopes heading into the final phase of the tournament.

Also READ: Here’s how KKR can still qualify for IPL 2026 playoffs after losing to RCB in Raipur