Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) delivered a resounding all-round performance to crush Punjab Kings by eight wickets in Qualifier 1 of the IPL 2025, securing their spot in the final for the fourth time in franchise history. However, amid the celebrations at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur, RCB’s star batter Virat Kohli found himself at the center of a heated controversy.
A video of Kohli chatting animatedly with a teammate at first slip during the ninth over of Punjab Kings’ innings has gone viral, with fans accusing him of insulting young PBKS batter Musheer Khan. According to social media users, Kohli allegedly referred to Musheer Khan as a “water-boy,” saying, “Ye paani pilata hai,” just as the 20-year-old was preparing to face his first delivery in his IPL debut. The incident has sparked outrage online, with many fans slamming Kohli for what they perceive as a lack of respect toward a young cricketer making his T20 debut.
While the exact context of Kohli’s remark remains unclear, some fans argue that he was merely highlighting that Musheer Khan had earlier served drinks for the team—a common responsibility for young, uncapped players in the IPL. This claim, however, has not been independently verified.
The situation took an interesting twist considering that earlier in the season, Virat Kohli had presented Musheer Khan with a bat, which the young player gratefully acknowledged on Instagram.
Regardless of the intention, Kohli’s comment has ignited a heated debate online about sportsmanship and player respect, especially in a high-stakes match where Punjab Kings had already suffered a batting collapse.
Musheer Khan’s Debut Ends in Disappointment as RCB Dominate
Musheer Khan’s much-anticipated IPL debut ended in heartbreak as he was dismissed for a duck by RCB’s Suyash Sharma. Walking out after the strategic time-out—taken following the dismissal of Marcus Stoinis—Musheer faced just three deliveries before heading back to the pavilion without scoring.
Throughout the IPL 2025 season, Musheer had been seen carrying drinks as an impact substitute and had not featured in a single match until this qualifier. Punjab Kings, who had picked up the Mumbai batter for INR 30 lakh in the mega auction, were counting on him to make a mark under pressure, but their innings collapsed to a paltry 101 in just 15 overs. Suyash Sharma and Josh Hazlewood starred with the ball, taking three wickets each, while Yash Dayal chipped in with two.
RCB chased down the target effortlessly with eight wickets in hand and 60 balls to spare, as Phil Salt and Rajat Patidar remained unbeaten on 56 and 15, respectively. With this dominant win, RCB secured their place in the IPL 2025 final, marking their first appearance since 2016.
The much-anticipated final is set for June 3 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, where RCB will look to end their long-standing IPL trophy drought. As for Musheer Khan, it was a debut to forget—both on and off the field—thanks to a fiery exchange with one of India’s most celebrated cricketers.