The 11th match of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 has already delivered a moment of high drama at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, where Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) are locking horns with arch-rivals Chennai Super Kings (CSK). After winning the toss, CSK skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad opted to field first, hoping to restrict RCB on a batting-friendly surface.
With expectations soaring around former RCB captain Virat Kohlifans were anticipating a classic knock. However, what followed was a mix of chaos, drama, and redemption that quickly became the talking point of the match.
Shivam Dube’s dropped catch gives Virat Kohli a crucial lifeline
The drama unfolded in just the third over of the innings when CSK pacer Khaleel Ahmed induced a mistimed lofted shot from Kohli. The ball went high towards long-on, where Shivam Dubey was perfectly positioned to complete what looked like a straightforward catch.
In a surprising turn, Dube fumbled the chance and dropped the sitter, handing Kohli a lifeline when he was on just 7 runs. The moment instantly stunned players and fans alike, as dropping a batter of Kohli’s calibre is often seen as a costly mistake in T20 cricket.
Adding to the drama, cameras repeatedly focused on Kohli’s wife and Bollywood diva Anushka Sharma in the stands, whose shocked reaction quickly went viral across social media platforms.
Redemption arrives as Kohli departs for 28
Despite the early reprieve, Kohli could not convert the opportunity into a big innings. In the fifth over, CSK found redemption as young pacer Anshul Kamboj forced another aerial mistake from the RCB star.
This time, Dube made no mistake in the field, safely completing the catch to dismiss Kohli for 28 runs off 18 balls. While the wicket brought relief to CSK, it also highlighted how quickly fortunes can swing in a game of T20 cricket.
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Social media erupts as fans troll Dube
Although Dube eventually made amends, his earlier drop did not go unnoticed. Fans took to social media in large numbers, criticising the all-rounder for what many described as an “unacceptable error” at the highest level.
Memes and reactions flooded timelines within minutes, with several users pointing out how giving Kohli a “second life” could have proved disastrous. Others, however, acknowledged Dube’s comeback effort, noting that his catch to dismiss Kohli helped balance the scales.
Here’s how fans reacted:
