In a dramatic moment during the IPL 2025 clash between Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Mumbai Indians (MI), Jitesh Sharma and Yash Dayal collided on the field while attempting to catch a top edge from Suryakumar Yadav. The mishap occurred in the 12th over of MI’s innings at the Wankhede Stadium when Dayal delivered a short ball that Suryakumar miscued high into the sky.

Both Dayal and wicketkeeper Jitesh rushed in for the catch, but a major miscommunication resulted in a mid-air collision. The ball slipped out of Dayal’s hands as the two crashed into each other, with replays showing Jitesh taking a hit on the face. Both players looked visibly frustrated after the failed effort, while the crowd erupted in surprise.

Kohli Reflects on Batting Brilliance and Team Performance

Earlier in the game, Virat Kohli led RCB’s batting charge with a composed half-century, supported strongly by skipper Rajat Patidar and Devdutt Padikkal. Their collective efforts powered the team to a formidable total against Mumbai Indians.

Speaking about the performance, Kohli said, “That was pretty good. After losing a wicket on the second ball (of Phil Salt), we countered pretty nicely. Dev (Padikkal) played a brilliant impact knock for us, really changed the momentum towards us. I got a few going as well. That partnership was really important for us to set that total on the board.”

The former RCB captain praised Padikkal for consistently delivering impactful cameos in tough situations and predicted a big score from the left-hander soon.

Kohli Emphasizes the Need for Evolution in T20 Cricket

Kohli also opened up about evolving his game with modern T20 demands. “My strength is to get my touch and feel of the ball early on, then I can play the shots that I want to. I tried to innovate a bit, tried to play different shots off spin as well and then tried to hit different areas of the ground. You need to keep evolving your game and keep up with the demands of the situation in T20 cricket,” he explained.

He credited the middle-order for finishing strongly, highlighting Patidar and Jitesh Sharma’s efforts in adding vital runs at the back end of the innings. “What Rajat did is what Rajat does most often. It was a great inning by those two as well – Rajat and Jitesh got us those extra 20-25 runs,” Kohli added.

Pitch Conditions and Bowling Strategy

Kohli also commented on the nature of the pitch, pointing out that it was trickier than it appeared. “The wicket was not as straightforward as it seemed. Hardik was taking pace off the ball consistently and was not coming onto the bat. We have a good score on the board,” he said.

Looking ahead to the second innings, Kohli expressed hope that RCB could finally break their losing streak against MI at Wankhede. “Hopefully, we break that jinx today (RCB have lost their last six matches vs MI at this venue). We have got a strong bowling line-up, and early inroads in the powerplay will help,” he concluded.