WATCH: Virat Kohli’s explosive send-off leaves Abhishek Sharma shell-shocked and silent during RCB vs SRH clash

IPL 2025, RCB vs SRH: Virat Kohli's aggressive celebration after Abhishek Sharma's dismissal goes viral. (Photo: JioHotstar and X)

In their penultimate IPL 2025 league round matchup against SRH in Lucknow on Friday (May 23), Virat Kohli was at his aggressive best. Abhishek Sharma hit three fours and three sixes while scoring 34 off 17 balls before being dismissed by Lungi Ngidi in the fourth over.

Ngidi sent a full delivery on middle and leg and Abhishek mistimed his flick to deep backward square leg, where Phil Salt made a well-timed catch close to the boundary to end the opening partnership.

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After the young batter was dismissed, Kohli gave him an epic send-off by running onto the field and shouting something at Abhishek as he made his way back to the dugout. In what appeared to be a mark of respect for a cricketer of Kohli's caliber, the SRH opener said nothing in response. Interestingly, Abhishek had taken offense when Digvesh Rathi of LSG gave him a send-off celebration just a few days ago.

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Drizzyat12Kennyat8 (@45kennyat7PM) May 23, 2025

With his trademark farewell celebration, LSG spinner Rathi infuriated Abhishek after giving Shardul Thakur a catch at the extra cover area. As he left, Abhishek eyeballed the bowler because of this. He then halted and turned to face Rathi again. The LSG fielders and the umpire had to separate the two, but not before they spoke to each other.

Rathi was suspended for the team's last league-stage game after accruing additional demerit points for violating the Code of Conduct and due to his first violation of the Code of Conduct this season, Abhishek was additionally fined 25% of his match fees as a result of the incident.

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Many were surprised when Kohli announced his Test retirement on May 12 because he was expected to play in India's next five-match Test series in England, which begins on June 20.

Following the retirements of R Ashwin and Rohit Sharma, Kohli made his declaration, leaving India's team with little experience for the forthcoming series.