Watch- Devdutt Padikkal Takes Virat Kohli’s Revenge From Jason Holder – Devdutt Padikkal Mimics Jason Holder: RCB vs GT IPL 2026 Highlights
A Night of High Drama and Sweet Revenge in Dharamsala
The high-stakes drama of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 reached its fever pitch during Qualifier 1 at the picturesque HPCA Stadium in Dharamsala. Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) put on an absolute masterclass, registering one of their most dominant playoff victories in tournament history by crushing Gujarat Titans (GT) by a whopping 92 runs. While Rajat Patidar’s sensational batting display set the foundation for this historic win, it was an intense, silent battle of gestures between Devdutt Padikkal, Virat Kohli, and Jason Holder that set social media ablaze.
The Spark: Jason Holder’s Aggressive Send-off to Virat Kohli
Batting first in a high-pressure playoff encounter, Royal Challengers Bengaluru got off to a flying start. Following an explosive opening cameo from Venkatesh Iyer, Virat Kohli took control of the innings. The legendary batsman looked in sublime touch from the very beginning, with elegant drives and powerful pulls keeping the Dharamsala crowd on their feet. Kohli raced to a swift 43 runs off just 25 deliveries, a knock decorated with five boundaries and a massive six.
Kohli, alongside young left-hander Devdutt Padikkal, looked completely untroubled as they easily guided RCB to a commanding 93 runs within the first nine overs. It seemed like Kohli was prime for yet another legendary playoff milestone. However, Gujarat Titans desperately needed a breakthrough, and it was veteran West Indian all-rounder Jason Holder who answered the call in the ninth over.
Holder bowled a sharp, back-of-a-length delivery that hurried onto Kohli. Caught slightly off-guard, Kohli attempted an awkward pull shot but failed to middle the ball. Instead, he managed only a thick bottom edge that crashed directly into his stumps, ending his threatening stay at the crease. Thrilled with the prized wicket of the run-machine, Holder erupted into an aggressive celebration. The tall all-rounder performed an animated, jogging-style mock run-away gesture right in front of Kohli as the former RCB captain made his way back to the pavilion. It was a provocative send-off that certainly raised eyebrows in the Bengaluru dugout.
The Payback: Devdutt Padikkal Mimics Holder’s Celebration
In cricket, as in life, what goes around comes around—and the payback arrived sooner than Jason Holder could have ever anticipated. Chasing a mammoth target of 255 runs, the Gujarat Titans’ innings crumbled spectacularly under the immense scoreboard pressure. By the time the sixth over of the second innings rolled around, the Titans were already in deep trouble, losing key wickets early on.
Rasikh Salam was brought into the attack and immediately piled on the misery for GT. Facing Salam, Holder looked completely out of sorts and was dismissed for a painful three-ball duck. The moment Holder’s bails flew, RCB’s Devdutt Padikkal seized the perfect opportunity to settle the score. In a brilliant display of on-field banter, Padikkal sprinted across the turf while perfectly mimicking Holder’s earlier jogging-style celebration. It was a direct, hilarious, and satisfying tit-for-tat response that instantly sent the RCB fans in the stadium and online into a frenzy, with supporters hailing it as the ultimate revenge for Kohli.
Padikkal’s Crucial Contribution with the Bat
While his viral celebration grabbed the headlines, Padikkal’s contribution with the bat was equally crucial in setting up RCB’s massive total. The elegant left-hander played a highly effective supporting role, scoring a brisk 30 runs off just 19 balls at an impressive strike rate of 157.89. Padikkal’s willingness to attack from the get-go allowed Kohli to play his natural game, and their rapid 72-run partnership for the second wicket ensured that RCB maintained complete control over the powerplay overs. Although Holder eventually dismissed Padikkal later in the innings, the platform had already been perfectly laid for the middle-order onslaught.
Rajat Patidar’s Carnage and RCB’s Historical Total
With the platform set by the top order, Rajat Patidar walked in and played an innings for the ages. The RCB skipper went on an absolute rampage, dismantling every single bowler the Gujarat Titans deployed. Patidar smashed an unbelievable, unbeaten 93 runs off a mere 33 deliveries, striking at a mind-boggling rate. Thanks to his fireworks, RCB posted a colossal 254/5 on the scoreboard, recording the highest-ever team total in the history of the IPL playoffs.
A Complete Bowling Performance Seals the Final Berth
Faced with a mountain to climb, Gujarat Titans never got going in their chase. RCB’s bowling unit put on a clinic of disciplined line and length. Jacob Duffy got the ball rolling with a bizarre hit-wicket dismissal of Sai Sudharsan, followed quickly by Bhuvneshwar Kumar removing the dangerous Shubman Gill cheaply. Rasikh Salam then tore through the middle order, taking the wickets of Nishant Sindhu and Jason Holder in a single over to leave GT reeling at 51/5 within the powerplay. Gujarat Titans were eventually bundled out for 162 in 19.3 overs, handing Royal Challengers Bengaluru an emphatic 92-run win and a well-deserved spot in the IPL 2026 Final.
