RCB Rival’s Surprising Gesture Towards Virat Kohli Catches Fans Off Guard

Despite their fierce rivalry, RCB's Virat Kohli and CSK's MS Dhoni maintain a deep sense of mutual respect for each other, setting a high standard.

RCB Rival’s Surprising Gesture Towards Virat Kohli Catches Fans Off Guard

CSK wished Virat Kohli on his 37th birthday in a special manner. (via NDTV Sports)

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Celebrating his 37th birthday, Indian cricketing icon Virat Kohli received tributes from across the world. However, what left fans surprised was a birthday gesture from Chennai Super Kings, which happens to be Kohli-led Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s arch-rivals.  

Virat Kohli has an impressive record against the five-time IPL winners, having scored the second-most runs against them in the IPL. In 34 matches against CSK, Kohli boasts 1,146 runs at an average of 38.20, having hit a total of ten half-centuries. Overall, Kohli has a stunning tally of 8,661 runs in 267 matches in the IPL at an average of 39.54, including eight centuries and 63 fifties, making him the competition’s all-time highest run-getter. 

The rivalry between RCB and CSK is deep-seated and cultural, intensified by the fact that the two teams are from the southernmost part of the country. CSK holds a significant edge in their head-to-head record, having defeated RCB a record 22 times out of 36 matches played across all competitions. RCB famously reached the final of the IPL in 2011, only to suffer a heartbreaking defeat to CSK by 58 runs.

While CSK turned into the most successful franchises after the win, RCB struggled to even win its maiden IPL title, until 2025. The rivalry between the two sides reached its peak last season, when RCB ended CSK’s hopes of making it to the knock-out stages by defeating them in their last group stage game. A rivalry that is fueled by the presence of two legends, Virat Kohli and MS Dhoni, has extended beyond the pitch, through fans wars and banter.

Despite the rivalry, Chennai Super Kings’ recent social media post showed that the franchise has moved beyond the line that divides the two. Wishing Kohli on his 37th birthday, the Yellow Army shared a video, where they labeled him as the ‘Arasan’ of cricket, which translates into ‘King’. The clip also depicted Kohli as the next greatest Indian cricketer after Sachin Tendulkar, also sharing his best moments with Dhoni.

Nonetheless, it will be interesting to see what lies ahead for Kohli, seemingly nearing the dawn of his cricketing career. He has already retired from two out of the three formats in international cricket, but hopes to continue playing for India in ODIs. 

Virat Kohli’s cricketing journey over the years, as he turns 37

Often recognized as the greatest white-ball player of all time, Virat Kohli has spent more than 15 years in service of the Indian cricket team. A look back at Kohli’s cricketing career and his journey shows how rare are such players who have graced the sport.

Virat Kohli career
Virat Kohli’s career has been marked by unmatched consistency and results. (via NDTV Sports)

Kohli made his international debut in 2008, after having guided the Indian U-19 team to victory in the World Cup victory. He has featured in 305 ODIs so far, scoring 14,255 runs at an average of 57.41, and is the player with the most hundreds in ODIs (51), alongside the 75 half-centuries. The 37-year-old broke Kumar Sangakkara’s record to become the second highest run-getter in ODIs, behind Sachin Tendulkar. 

In red-ball cricket, he also boasts impressive numbers, having scored 9,230 runs in 123 matches at an average of 46.85, including 30 centuries and 31 half-centuries. Kohli’s legacy extends beyond his batting numbers, as he is the country’s most successful Test captain, having led the Indian red-ball side to 40 wins in 68 matches, and a home record of having won ten out of the 11 Test series he led in.

He has been awarded a number of individual honors throughout his career, including the ICC Men’s ODI Cricketer of the Decade (2011-2020). Apart from that, he has won the 2011 World Cup, the 2013 and 2025 Champions Trophies, and the 2024 T20 WC, with the Indian team. 

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