Tensions flared once again between Virat Kohli and Shreyas Iyer during the high-stakes IPL 2025 Qualifier 1 clash between Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Punjab Kings (PBKS). Kohli, never one to shy away from expressing his emotions, reignited his rivalry with Iyer by giving the PBKS skipper a fierce send-off after his early dismissal.
This fiery moment was a continuation of their earlier confrontation in the league stage, when the two Indian stars had a frosty exchange. Back then, Kohli celebrated RCB’s narrow win with an animated fist pump right in front of Iyer at the non-striker’s end. The PBKS captain’s unimpressed expression said it all, and while no words were exchanged, the body language revealed the brewing tension.
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Fast forward to May 29 in Mullanpur, and the animosity was back on display. Shreyas Iyer walked in during the third over with PBKS in early trouble. Expected to steady the innings, Iyer instead fell for just 2 runs, edging a sharp delivery from Josh Hazlewood to wicketkeeper Jitesh Sharma.
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The moment the catch was completed, Kohli couldn’t contain his excitement—he turned toward Iyer, let out a thunderous roar, and charged toward his teammates in celebration, making his feelings crystal clear. In the dugout, Preity Zinta looked visibly disappointed as her team stumbled further. At the time of writing, PBKS were struggling at 92/8 in the 13th over, having lost wickets in quick succession.
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Virat Kohli’s energy, combined with RCB’s clinical bowling, has put immense pressure on the Punjab side. With most of PBKS’s frontline batters back in the pavilion, they now need a miracle to put up a fighting total. But amidst the cricketing chaos, the personal duel between Kohli and Iyer once again stole the spotlight.
