Delhi Capitals got off to a flying start after being put in to bat, with Abhishek Porel and Faf du Plessis racing to 32 without loss in just three overs. Their aggressive intent seemed to put Royal Challengers Bangalore on the back foot early in the innings.
However, RCB’s pacers responded quickly, with Josh Hazlewood breaking the opening stand by removing Porel in the fourth over. Yash Dayal followed it up by dismissing Karun Nair in the very next over, putting a brake on Delhi’s momentum.
As the innings progressed, the pitch began to slow down, making strokeplay increasingly difficult. KL Rahul and Faf du Plessis found it tough to keep the scoreboard ticking with boundaries, as the RCB bowlers adjusted their lengths effectively. It was during this tense period that Virat Kohli’s tactical acumen came to the fore, influencing a pivotal moment in the match.
With both batters trying to anchor the innings, Kohli was caught on camera giving instructions to his bowlers—specifically advising them to go fuller instead of bowling short. He knew Faf’s strengths lay in pull shots and cross-bat hitting, and a change in length could force an error. His understanding of Faf’s batting preferences showcased the sharp cricketing mind that has made him one of the game’s greats.
Kohli’s plan came to fruition when Krunal Pandya delivered a fuller ball to Faf, who attempted a soft flick rather than his usual power strokes. The mistimed shot went straight to long-on, where none other than Kohli himself completed the catch with ease. It was a textbook example of strategy turning into execution, with Kohli playing both architect and finisher of the moment.
Rule 1: Always listen to #ViratKohli 🙌🏻
— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) April 27, 2025
Rule 2: Never forget rule no 1#ViratKohli guides the bowler on how to bowl to #FafduPlessis in the 9th over & they get him in the very next over!
Watch the LIVE action ➡ https://t.co/2H6bmSltQD#IPLonJioStar 👉 #DCvRCB | LIVE NOW on… pic.twitter.com/nErgBhBa8A
Social media was quick to react, with fans and pundits praising Kohli’s game awareness and on-field leadership. The clip of him directing the bowlers followed by the successful dismissal of du Plessis went viral, adding another highlight to his growing list of influential moments in the IPL.