IPL 2025
Virat Kohli Shares Emotional Hug With Ajinkya Rahane Ahead Of RCB vs KKR Clash
By CricShots - May 16, 2025 2:09 pm
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The M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru witnessed a heartfelt moment on the eve of the IPL 2025 clash between Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). Former India Test captain Virat Kohli, who recently announced his retirement from the longest format, was seen sharing a warm embrace with KKR skipper Ajinkya Rahane ahead of a nets session.

Ajinkya Rahane
Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane

The two seasoned campaigners, who once formed the backbone of India’s Test team, caught up during their teams’ training drills in what felt like a symbolic passing of an era. Ajinkya Rahane, who has been out of the Test setup for nearly two years, and Kohli, now retired from red-ball cricket, were spotted walking together, having a quiet conversation before exchanging a friendly hug.

The visual served as a poignant reminder of the duo’s contribution to Indian Test cricket, especially in overseas conditions. Their brief interaction, laced with mutual respect, came at a time when Indian cricket is undergoing a massive generational shift.

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The league itself resumed on Saturday, May 17, after a tense week of uncertainty. The IPL was paused due to cross-border tensions between India and Pakistan, but with a ceasefire in place, the BCCI confirmed the tournament’s return.

 

Kohli’s announcement on May 12 shocked the cricketing world. The 36-year-old finished his illustrious Test career with 9,230 runs in 123 matches, averaging 46.85, including 30 centuries. As captain, he led India in 68 Tests, winning a record 40 games—cementing his place as the most successful Test skipper in Indian cricket history.

Former coach Ravi Shastri praised Kohli’s commitment, saying, “If he decided to do something, he gave it everything.”

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With Rohit Sharma and Ravichandran Ashwin also bowing out, the team is firmly in transition. Shubman Gill is expected to step into a leadership role soon. Meanwhile, a win for RCB over KKR would seal their spot in the playoffs, giving fans plenty to cheer for beyond the emotional weight of the moment.