At the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur, the Rajasthan Royals (RR) faced a tough outing against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in their IPL 2025 encounter, suffering a comprehensive nine-wicket defeat. The match featured an intense moment between RR’s left-arm spinner, Kumar Kartikeya, and RCB’s legendary batter, Virat Kohli, where a tense on-field exchange took place. However, Kartikeya maintained his composure admirably, diffusing the situation with calm and earning Kohli’s respect in the process.

Despite the heavy loss, Kartikeya stood out as RR's most impactful player. Brought in as an impact substitute, he was the only bowler to take a wicket in RCB’s dominant chase. His crucial breakthrough came when he dismissed the dangerous Phil Salt, who had already hammered 65 runs off just 33 balls. Kartikeya’s smart short delivery forced Salt into a mistimed shot that landed safely in the deep, offering RR a glimmer of hope.

Though RCB comfortably sailed to victory, the dismissal marked a small moral victory for Kartikeya. His calm demeanor and effective bowling under pressure did not go unnoticed. As Salt exited the field, Kohli acknowledged Kartikeya’s efforts by extending a courteous handshake, a gesture that highlighted the spirit of sportsmanship and mutual respect between the players—even in a one-sided contest.

KK x VK: A short story. 💗🤝😂 pic.twitter.com/R6bxYaM3oj

— Rajasthan Royals (@rajasthanroyals) April 14, 2025

Also Read: IPL 2025, Match umber 29: Delhi Capitals vs Mumbai Indians Full Match Highlights

How Kartikeya Kept His Calm

During an earlier instant of the match, Salt hit a six against Kartikeya, which made Kohli exclaim, "Come on," before the dual interaction occurred. Kartikeya sustained his concentration and refrained from responding to Kohli even after the direct eye contact. After Kartaikya sent Salt away from the game, he cheered his personal "Come on!" call to express his pleasure. The cricketer then corrected his words by saying, "Bhaiya, aapko nahi bol raha," which received Kohli's acknowledgment before praising Kartikeya's bowling performance. Kartikeya recorded 1/25 in his three-over spell, which became a highlight during the challenging match for Rajasthan Royals.

Kohli led RCB to a 15-ball victory with his unbeaten 62 off 45 balls, which represented their fourth away success of the season. Kartikeya demonstrated his composure through the match to avoid confrontation while earning the respect of his opponent.