Watch: Virat Kohli hilariously teases Shubman Gill over his beard look ahead of RCB vs GT IPL 2026 Qualifier 1

A couple of days before the first qualifier of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 clash between the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and the Gujarat Titans (GT) at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association on May 26, Virat Kohli and Shubman Gill were spotted together as the former teased the latter.

Kohli and Gill were seen hanging around on the streets on May 24 when the former Indian captain teased the Punjab-born on his beard look as both shared a funny banter in a video that went viral on social media platforms.

From rivals to roasters— Kohli can’t stop laughing at Gill’s new beard look days before the biggest clash of IPL 2026

Both Virat Kohli and Gill have been in a pleasing mood after their teams enjoyed a dominating campaign in the IPL 2026. The Bengaluru side finished the event at the top of the points table with nine victories in 14 clashes at a net run rate of +0.783. Gujarat is in second position with 18 points at a NRR of +0.695.

Watch Kohli teasing Gill here- 

Kohli was about to pass Gill when he stopped and hugged him in a warm gesture. Later, he put his hand on the youngster’s cheek and cheekily pulled his leg on the beard. The video went viral on social media platforms.

See Also: Watch: Virat Kohli refuses to shake hands with Travis Head after heated SRH vs RCB IPL 2026

Both these players also shared a funny banter when the teams faced each other in the league stage clash at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.

616 vs 500+ runs— Why Kohli vs Gill is IPL 2026 Qualifier 1’s biggest individual battle

Shubman Gill finished the league stage of the tournament as the second leading run-getter. The right-handed batter smashed 616 runs in 13 innings at an average of 47.38 and a strike rate of 161.67, thanks to six half-centuries at the best score of 86 runs. He hopes to continue the same aggressive approach as the opener in the first qualifier.

Kohli was also in great touch in the event to be the highest run-scorer of the RCB side in the IPL 2026. The former Indian T20I star has clubbed 557 runs in 14 innings at an average of over 50 and a blistering strike rate of 163.82, with four fifties and one century at the best score of unbeaten 105 runs.

See Also: Watch: CSK miss a sitter — Gill's edge goes unpunished as nobody appeals in GT vs CSK IPL 2026

The first qualifier will also be around the showdown between the King and the Prince, as both teams will depend on their star openers.  

Fans react to Kohli mercilessly teasing Gill’s beard before RCB vs GT Qualifier 1

Here is how the fans reacted to Kohli teasing Gill’s beard look before the first qualifier of the IPL 2026 between RCB and GT-