ipl 2026 clash between Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) And Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) There were many memorable moments in Raipur, but despite RCB’s easy win, one particular incident made headlines. The fans celebrated there Virat Kohli’s Brilliant unbeaten century, this was the bond and mutual respect shared between Kohli and the experienced batsman Manish Pandey After an incredible catch that literally won hearts on social media.
Manish Pandey took a sensational catch to dismiss Tim David
The moment came during the latter stages of RCB’s chase when the explosive batsman tim david Went in wanting to end the game quickly. Karthik Tyagi A skied back-of-a-length ball was bowled outside the off stump and David attempted to slash it behind point with power.
However, the ball flew awkwardly towards backward point where Pandey reacted immediately. Moving swiftly to his left, the veteran KKR cricketer launched himself perfectly and completed a breathtaking one-handed catch a few inches above the turf.
For a few moments almost everyone present on the field appeared stunned. Tyagi stood in disbelief with his head in his hands, while David looked towards the umpire, expecting the ball to have touched the ground. Kohli’s reaction at the non-striker’s end said it all. The RCB superstar was completely speechless and stood with his mouth open while watching the replays on the giant screen.
Virat Kohli’s appreciation for Manish Pandey melts hearts
Although the catch eluded his partner at the crucial stage of the chase, Kohli could not hide his admiration for the sheer brilliance of the effort. Moments after sealing RCB’s win, Kohli walked up to Pandey and hugged him warmly, appreciating the brilliant catch.
The conversation holds additional significance given the long history shared by both the cricketers. Kohli and Pandey have been a part of the IPL journey for almost 19 years now, with both having started their careers during the formative era of the league. The two 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 the players have represented Indian cricket across all formats and have faced each other countless times in the IPL. Their post-match moment reflected the mutual respect built over years of friendship, competition and shared experiences in Indian cricket.
Here is the video:
ππ¨ ππ© π πππ§π§? ππ¨ ππ© π π‘πππ£π? …#manishpandey Catches a blinder to dismiss #timdavid π€―#TATAIPL Playoff race 2026 β‘οΈ #RCBvKKR | Live now πhttps://t.co/9SHVzm41aO pic.twitter.com/uwWo8hx3Vm
β Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) 13 May 2026
Also read: IPL 2026: Thanks to Virat Kohli’s brilliant century, RCB beats KKR to top spot, fans get excited
Kohli’s century took RCB to the top
While Pandey’s catch became one of the defining scenes of the night, the match still belonged to Kohli. The batting superstar silenced the recent criticism by scoring an unbeaten 105 off just 60 balls and leading RCB to a six-wicket win with five balls to spare. The innings also carried historical significance as Kohli registered his ninth IPL century and became the first Indian batsman to complete 14,000 T20 runs.
Earlier, KKR scored a competitive score of 192/4 thanks to a brilliant 71 runs. Angkrish Raghuvanshi and scored 49 unbeaten runs Rinku Singh. However, strong contributions kept RCB’s target in control throughout Devdutt Padikkal And Kohli is leading. The win took RCB to the top of the IPL 2026 points table and further strengthened their playoff hopes to reach the final stage of the tournament.
Also read: Here’s how KKR can qualify for IPL 2026 playoffs even after losing to RCB in Raipur
