The IPL 2026 opener between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Sunrisers Hyderabad had everything — big runs, drama, emotions, and one viral moment where Kohli drops easy catch that shocked fans.
The IPL 2026 opener had everything — big scores, emotional moments, and viral reactions.
But the highlight remained the rare moment when Kohli drops easy catch, followed by Anushka Sharma’s priceless reaction and Kohli’s strong comeback.
In the end, Kohli once again proved why he is called the king of chases — turning a mistake into a memorable performance.
At the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, SRH posted a strong total of 201 runs, but it was Kohli’s dropped catch and Anushka Sharma’s reaction that grabbed all the attention online.
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Kohli drops easy catch, fans stunned
One of the biggest talking points came in the 18th over when Kohli drops easy catch of SRH’s Aniket Verma.
Verma mistimed a shot off Bhuvneshwar Kumar, and the ball went high towards long-on where Kohli was perfectly positioned. It looked like a simple catch, but surprisingly, the ball slipped through his hands, brushed his thigh, and fell down.
For a player known for his sharp fielding, seeing Kohli drops easy like this left everyone stunned — including Kohli himself.
Anushka Sharma’s reaction goes viral instantly
As soon as Kohli drops easy catch, cameras panned to Anushka Sharma in the stands.
Her reaction? She couldn’t stop laughing.
That candid moment quickly went viral across social media, with fans sharing clips and memes. The combination of Kohli’s rare mistake and Anushka’s natural reaction made it one of the most talked-about moments of IPL 2026.
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Kohli makes amends after costly drop
Even though Kohli drops easy chance gave Aniket Verma a lifeline, the RCB star didn’t take long to bounce back.
Later in the innings, Kohli successfully took Verma’s catch, making up for his earlier mistake. It was a perfect redemption moment, showing why he remains one of the most reliable players in pressure situations.
Verma, however, made the most of that dropped chance, smashing 43 runs off just 18 balls and pushing SRH past the 200-run mark.
SRH innings: Kishan leads the fightback
SRH didn’t have the best start as they lost early wickets, with Abhishek Sharma (7) and Travis Head (11) falling quickly to Jacob Duffy.
Duffy continued his शानदार spell by removing Nitish Kumar Reddy for just 2 runs.
Stand-in skipper Ishan Kishan then steadied the innings with a शानदार knock of 80 runs, supported by Heinrich Klaasen who added 31 runs. Later, Aniket Verma’s explosive cameo helped SRH reach 201.
RCB chase: Kohli dominates despite early drama
Chasing 202, RCB had a shaky start as Phil Salt got out for just 1 run.
But then came the game-changing partnership between Virat Kohli and Devdutt Padikkal. The duo added 101 runs, completely shifting the momentum.
Padikkal smashed 61 off 26 balls, while Kohli played a masterclass innings, staying unbeaten on 69 off 38 balls.
Even after the moment where Kohli drops easy, he made sure his performance with the bat erased all doubts.
Emotional tribute before the match
Before the game, RCB paid tribute to fans who lost their lives in the 2025 stampede.
- 11 seats were kept permanently empty in the stadium
- Players observed a one-minute silence
- RCB players wore black armbands as a mark of respect
It added an emotional touch to an already high-voltage match.
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Kohli-Anushka moment steals the show
After finishing the chase in just 15.4 overs, Kohli celebrated in style.
He was seen blowing a flying kiss towards Anushka Sharma in the stands — a moment fans absolutely loved.
From Kohli drops easy catch to finishing the game in style, it was a complete rollercoaster night for the RCB superstar.
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FAQs About Kohli catch vs SRH
FAQs
Why did Kohli drops easy catch in IPL 2026?
Virat Kohli dropped an easy catch of Aniket Verma during the RCB vs SRH IPL 2026 opener due to a misjudgment while running in from long-on. The ball slipped from his hands, making it a rare fielding error.
When did Kohli drops easy catch against SRH?
The moment when Kohli drops easy catch happened during the 18th over of the SRH innings, bowled by Bhuvneshwar Kumar in the IPL 2026 opener.
How did Anushka Sharma react when Kohli drops easy catch?
As soon as Kohli dropped the easy catch, Anushka Sharma was seen laughing in the stands. Her reaction quickly went viral on social media.
Did Kohli make up after he drops easy catch?
Yes, after Kohli drops easy chance, he later took the catch of Aniket Verma, making a strong comeback in the match.
Who won the RCB vs SRH IPL 2026 match?
Royal Challengers Bengaluru won the match comfortably, with Virat Kohli playing a match-winning unbeaten knock of 69 runs.