Virat Kohli does the Kantara celebration in front of KL Rahul after the end of DC vs RCB IPL game. (Screengrab via JioHotstar)Remember that ‘this is my ground’ Kantara celebration that Delhi Capitals batter KL Rahul pulled out when he had led Delhi to victory over the Royal Challengers Bengaluru earlier this month at the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru? In that game, wicketkeeper-batter Rahul had scored an unbeaten 93 off 53 balls to guide Delhi to victory over the RCB in just 17.5 overs while chasing a target of 164. During that game, two bits of celebration from Rahul had stood out. First, when he hit a six, he drew a circle on the ground with his bat and then thumped in the middle. Then, after he had guided the Delhi franchise to victory over Bengaluru, Rahul had thumped his chest and pointed at the ground to imply that this was his ground.
Rahul had later revealed that the celebration was inspired by his favourite movie Kantara.
On Sunday, it was Virat Kohli’s turn to guide RCB to victory over Delhi Capitals at his home with a patient 51 as RCB chased down Delhi’s target of 163 with six wickets intact and nine balls remaining. What was fitting was that if Rahul had guided DC to victory at his home ground of Bengaluru, Kohli had replied by helping RCB claim a famous win at his old stomping ground of Delhi.
And Kohli is not a man who forgets things, as he showed on Sunday evening. During the post-match celebration while KL Rahul was talking to teammate Karun Nair, Kohli approached them and made it a point to do the Kantara celebration. However, it must be noted that there was no malice involved as the two India teammates then burst into laughter.
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Explaining the celebration, Rahul had said: “This is a special place for me. That celebration was from one of my favourite movies, Kantara. So, ya, just a tiny reminder that this ground, this turf, this home is where I have grown up and that this is mine.”
The way he says ‘This is mine’ 🥹 pic.twitter.com/DKnWv2HcmN
— Delhi Capitals (@DelhiCapitals) April 11, 2025
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Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s six-wicket victory over the Delhi Capitals saw RCB leap to the top spot in the IPL 2025 standings while Kohli himself rose to the top of the Orange Cap charts, thanks to his match-winning 51-run knock. RCB are still unbeaten away from home in IPL 2025, but have been found wanting on more occasions than one this season.
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