In a heartwarming moment from the IPL 2025 clash between Mumbai Indians and Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Virat Kohli and Hardik Pandya reminded fans that cricket is more than just fierce competition—it’s also about camaraderie and shared laughs.
The incident occurred at the end of the third over during RCB’s innings when a fielding change was underway. As Hardik Pandya casually walked past Virat Kohli, who was at the non-striker’s end, the RCB ace playfully raised his bat behind Hardik’s back in a mock swing, as if teasingly saying, “Should I hit you with this?”
The gesture instantly drew laughter from both players, reflecting their mutual respect and playful chemistry, despite leading rival teams. The moment was a hit on social media, with fans hailing it as one of the most endearing visuals of the season so far.
At that point in the game, Royal Challengers were 34/1 in 3.1 overs, with Kohli and Devdutt Padikkal looking to stabilize the innings after Philip Salt was dismissed early by Trent Boult.
Cricket may be intense, but these spontaneous exchanges between top players show the human side of the game that fans love to see.
