Former RCB skipper Virat Kohli didn’t hold back his emotions during the high-stakes IPL 2025 clash between Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) on May 27. Kohli, known for his animated on-field presence, was visibly frustrated with stand-in captain Jitesh Sharma after a hasty DRS call in the very first over of the match.
With regular captain Rajat Patidar listed as an Impact Player, Jitesh was leading RCB for the evening. The incident occurred during the fourth delivery of the opening over, bowled by Sri Lankan pacer Nuwan Thushara, who replaced Lungi Ngidi in the playing XI. Thushara delivered a swinging full-toss that struck LSG opener Mitchell Marsh on the pad, prompting a loud appeal from the RCB fielders.
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Despite umpire Michael Gough turning down the appeal, Jitesh, influenced by Thushara’s insistence, decided to review the decision almost immediately. What irked Kohli, who was stationed in the slips, was that he wasn’t consulted before the decision was made. Reacting swiftly, Kohli was seen telling Jitesh, “Bat pe laga hai”, indicating there was a clear inside edge.
— Birdman (@kingbirdman22) May 27, 2025
— Birdman (@kingbirdman22) May 27, 2025
As the review played out on the big screen, Kohli’s instincts were validated. The replay confirmed that Marsh had indeed nicked the ball before it struck his front pad, resulting in RCB burning a valuable review unnecessarily. It was a clear case of miscommunication and impatience — a costly error in a crucial match that demanded composure.
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While emotions often run high in IPL contests, moments like these underscore the importance of leadership awareness and proper communication — something Kohli, with years of captaincy experience, understands all too well.
