NEW DELHI: When the stakes are at their highest, Virat Kohli often finds a way to deliver. The Royal Challengers Bengaluru star once again rose to the occasion in the IPL 2026 final, and among the thousands celebrating his latest masterclass was his wife, actor Anushka Sharma.As Kohli brought up the fastest half-century of his IPL career against Gujarat Titans at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, Anushka was seen standing and applauding from the stands, acknowledging an innings that proved decisive in RCB’s quest for back-to-back titles. The heartwarming moment quickly caught the attention of fans, with videos of Anushka’s standing ovation circulating widely on social media.
Anushka joins applause for Kohli’s big-match knock
The moment came after Kohli reached his fifty in just 25 deliveries during RCB’s chase of 156.As the batting superstar raised his bat to acknowledge the crowd, RCB teammates in the dugout rose to applaud the innings. Anushka joined them, standing up alongside the fans and clapping enthusiastically for her husband.It was a fitting reaction to an innings that once again showcased Kohli’s ability to perform on cricket’s biggest stages.The former RCB captain struck seven fours and two sixes during his whirlwind knock and reached the landmark with a boundary off Arshad Khan in the 12th over.WATCH:
Kohli delivers when RCB needed him most
Kohli had set the tone much earlier alongside Venkatesh Iyer. The pair powered Bengaluru to the fastest team fifty in IPL final history, reaching the milestone in just 3.3 overs and breaking Chennai Super Kings’ previous record of four overs set in 2023.However, Gujarat Titans clawed their way back into the contest after the opening stand of 62, removing four RCB batters for just 29 runs.With the pressure mounting, Kohli anchored the chase while maintaining an aggressive scoring rate, ensuring the defending champions stayed firmly in control.The half-century was not only crucial in the context of the final but also historic. The 25-ball effort became the fastest fifty of Kohli’s 19-season IPL career, surpassing his previous best of 26-ball fifties recorded in 2018.
