Watch: Virat Kohli's cheeky thumbs-Up to Washington Sundar after his missed run-out Gifts RCB 5 Runs — GT vs RCB Qualifier 1 IPL 2026

Virat Kohli looked in brilliant touch during the Indian Premier League 2026 Qualifier 1 clash between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Gujarat Titans in Dharamshala. The star opener scored a quickfire 43 and played a key role as RCB registered one of their best-ever powerplay totals in IPL history.

During his innings, Kohli survived an early scare after Washington Sundar missed a clear run-out opportunity. To make things worse for GT, the throw raced away to the boundary, gifting RCB five extra runs. Kohli immediately reacted with a smile and cheekily gave Sundar a thumbs-up gesture from the middle.

The moment quickly went viral across social media platforms, with fans thoroughly enjoying the light-hearted exchange between the two Indian stars. Many users even speculated that Kohli jokingly said, “Thank you for the 5 runs,” although the exact words were unclear. The clip has now become one of the most talked-about moments from the high-voltage Qualifier 1 clash.

Watch the viral clip here.

The moment itself — What happened when Washington Sundar missed the run-out and gifted RCB 5 runs

The incident happened in the 5th over of RCB's innings. Virat Kohli was going for a quick single when he was nearly run out. Washington Sundar picked up the ball at cover and threw it at the stumps. But he missed the target completely.

See also -Watch: Shubman Gill's spectacular catch dismisses Venkatesh Iyer in RCB vs GT IPL 2026 Qualifier 1

The ball then ran away to the boundary. What could have been a wicket turned into five extra runs for RCB. It was a big moment for the Gujarat Titans to miss. They had the chance to remove Kohli but ended up giving away free runs instead. Kohli was clearly happy to survive. He turned to Sundar and gave him a big, cheeky thumbs-up. It looked like he was saying thank you for the gift. The crowd enjoyed every bit of it.

Kohli's cheeky thumbs-Up says it all — The reaction that has cricket Twitter in splits

For a brief moment, Virat Kohli could hardly believe what had just happened during the IPL 2026 Qualifier 1 clash between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Gujarat Titans in Dharamshala. Gujarat Titans captain Shubman Gill had brought Jason Holder into the attack and placed Washington Sundar at silly point as part of the field setup. Kohli pushed a delivery towards Sundar and immediately called for a quick single, but the all-rounder missed a clear run-out opportunity with the ball racing away to the boundary for four overthrows.

Instead of showing relief, Kohli reacted with a smile and turned back to Sundar with a slow, cheeky thumbs-up gesture. The moment instantly caught the attention of fans and cameras, with social media exploding within minutes. Many users joked that Kohli sarcastically thanked Sundar for the extra runs, while others called it one of the funniest moments of IPL 2026 so far.

See also -Virat Kohli in IPL Playoffs: Avg 26.4 in 15 knockouts — Can he finally deliver for RCB vs GT Qualifier 1 Tonight?

The clip quickly went viral across platforms, with memes and reactions flooding the internet throughout the night. Sundar’s expression after the missed chance only added to the humour of the moment. In a high-pressure Qualifier clash, Kohli’s playful reaction became one of the standout moments of the match and once again showed why fans love his on-field personality as much as his batting.

Did the 5 Extra Runs Matter? How the Missed Run-Out Impacted RCB vs GT Qualifier 1

Five runs may not sound like a lot in a T20 match. But in a high-pressure Qualifier game, every single run counts. The missed run-out did not just give RCB five extra runs. It also let Virat Kohli stay at the crease. And Kohli at the crease is always dangerous. Had Sundar hit the stumps, RCB would have lost one of their best batters at a crucial stage of the innings. Instead, Kohli went on to build his innings and put pressure back on the Gujarat Titans. The five extra runs and the dropped chance combined to shift the momentum firmly in RCB's favour.

Notably, after surviving the run-out chance, former India skipper Virat Kohli scored 43 runs off just 25 balls. During his quick yet valuable innings, the RCB opener smashed five boundaries and one six. After Kohli’s dismissal, Rajat Patidar (93* not out) and Krunal Pandya (43) steadied the innings and helped Royal Challengers Bengaluru post a massive total of 255 runs at the HPCA Stadium in Dharamshala on Tuesday.

See also -Watch: Virat Kohli and Travis Head engaged in heated altercation in SRH vs RCB IPL 2026 — What really happened on the field?

However, Washington Sundar's missed run-out will be talked about for a long time. Not just because of the five runs it cost the Gujarat Titans. But because of what came after it. Virat Kohli's cheeky thumbs-up turned a simple fielding error into one of the most talked-about moments of IPL 2026. It was funny, it was sharp, and it was pure Kohli. Some moments in cricket go beyond the scorecard. This was one of them.