‘Jadli se bhag ja’ – Pitch invader recounts his brief chat with Virat Kohli during KKR vs RCB match

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) began their Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 campaign winning on Saturday. RCB beat defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) by seven wickets. Former India and RCB skipper Virat Kohli led the batting charts with his 59 not out along with a blistering fifty by former KKR batter Phil Salt. 

The game also saw a cricket fan running onto the field, went onto hugging Virat Kohli during the course of the match. Security caught up with the fan and escorted him off the field and eventually the fan in question has been banned from the ground. When Times of India spoke to the fan, he revealed what Kohli said him during their brief interaction. 

Times of India quoted the fan as saying, “The moment I touched his feet, Virat Kohli sir, asked my name and said, ‘Jaldi se bhaag jaa (run away fast)'. He even asked the security to not hit me.” Social media went abuzz with the love the young fan showed towards Kohli as he touched India’s former skipper’s feet. 

‘Hunger was there from the start’ – MS Dhoni on Virat Kohli

Former India and Chennai Super Kings skipper MS Dhoni spoke to Jio Hotstar where he recounted his early days with Virat Kohli. Both players share a deep respect for each other after sharing the dressing room for over a decade. Dhoni who is playing his 18th season in the league had words of praise for the 36-year-old. 

During his chat with Jio Hotstar, the former India skipper said, “Between me and Virat, right from the start, he was someone who wanted to contribute. He was never happy with a 40 or a 60; he wanted to score a 100 and be not out till the end. So, that hunger was there right from the start.”

Dhoni also added, “The way he improved his batting and his will to perform are what kept him going. He raised his fitness levels and was always there on the field. So he was always like that. He would come and talk, 'What I could have done now? I could have done this.”