Virat Kohli blown away by Sarfaraz Khan’s Chinnaswamy blitz, his surprise call and stamp of approval steal spotlight

Sarfaraz Khan led a brief fightback for CSK with his half-century against RCB

Updated on: Apr 6, 2026, 07:53:35 IST

Written by Aratrick Mondal

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On another otherwise disappointing outing for the Chennai Super Kings, Sarfaraz Khan once again emerged as a rare positive. After a blitzy 12-ball 32 against Punjab Kings last week in Chennai, the India batter unleashed a carnage, smashing eight boundaries and two sixes in a 25-ball half-century against Royal Challengers Bengaluru on Sunday in IPL 2026. His knock at the Chinnaswamy Stadium even caught the attention of Virat Kohli.

Sarfaraz Khan scored half-century against RCB

Another poor show from Chennai’s top order saw the visitors slip to 30 for 3 inside the first three overs. However, Sarfaraz single-handedly revived the innings, powering CSK to 77 at the end of the powerplay and offering some much-needed respite.

ALSO READ: Stephen Fleming’s Dewald Brevis injury update reveals CSK desperation after RCB hammering

Sarfaraz was dismissed on the first ball after the powerplay, stumped by Jitesh Sharma off Krunal Pandya. As he walked back, Kohli was seen calling out to him amid the roar of the Chinnaswamy crowd. When Sarfaraz turned, the RCB star applauded and gave him a thumbs-up, acknowledging the impressive knock.

Chennai lose third in a row

A dominant batting display from RCB saw the hosts post a massive 251-run target. Devdutt Padikkal scored a half-century, while Tim David smashed an unbeaten 70 off just 25 balls in a stunning exhibition of power-hitting in the death overs. Captain Rajat Patidar provided strong support with 48 not out off 19.

In reply, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Sanju Samson and Ayush Mhatre fell early as CSK’s chase derailed with just 30 on the board. Sarfaraz led a brief fightback with his half-century, while Prashant Veer (43) and Jamie Overton (37) stitched together a 57-run stand. However, the steep target proved far beyond reach.

Chennai slumped to their third consecutive defeat of the season, remaining at the bottom of the points table. They had earlier lost to Rajasthan Royals in Guwahati and to Punjab Kings at home.

CSK will next return to Chennai to face Delhi Capitals after a four-day break

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Aratrick Mondal
Aratrick Mondal is a senior sports journalist based in New Delhi. In his eight years as a sports writer, Aratrick has worked at leading media organisations, including The Times of India, Times Now, Zee, India TV and currently works at a senior position at Hindustan Times Digital. He writes on cricket, football, pickleball and tennis, among other sports. He has extensively covered India's evolving cricket landscape, the country's new-found love for private leagues such as Indian Pickleball League (IPBL), Ultimate Kho Kho League (UKK), Rugby Premier League (RPL) and several tennis leagues. He has closely covered emerging sports such as pickleball. His coverage of major franchise events lends an atmospheric flavor to his ground reports. His recent story on how SA20 (the domestic cricket league of South Africa) had opened up its grounds to create a carnival-like fan experience garnered major international attention, including appreciation from major cricketers. Tennis holds a special place in his heart. Aratrick has built a strong niche in analytical tennis stories—ranging from Grand Slam narratives and player profiles to tactical breakdowns and ranking trends. His long-form features often decode grand slams, career highs and lows of tennis greats and the upward trajectory of emerging stars. He also closely follows India's tennis landscape, having covered the Davis Cup, Bengaluru Open and Tata Open, among others. His reporting is backed by strong data capabilities, with hands-on experience using tools like Python, Tableau, and Excel to produce visually rich, insight-led stories. This data-first approach enhances accuracy, transparency, and trust. In leadership roles, he has managed editorial shifts, overseen homepage strategy, optimised SEO workflows, and mentored peers to deliver consistent, high-traffic journalism. He recently won the HT DigiStar award for the third quarter of financial year 2025-26. Aratrick is trusted for his balanced reportage, sound sourcing, and ability to translate complex sporting events into engaging narratives that speak to a wide audience. He believes sports is for everyone, not just for the enthusiasts and has a unique ability to bring people together - just like the sumptuous meals you'll often find him cooking on a weekend evening.Read More

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