Chennai Super Kings (CSK) are going through one of the roughest starts in their IPL history. CSK has suffered three straight defeats in the ongoing IPL 2026, but in this disaster, one player has quietly stepped up and carried the team on his shoulders, and he is Sarfaraz Khan.
When almost everything went wrong for Chennai Super Kings in their IPL 2026 clash against the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), Sarfaraz Khan was the only one who fought like the team still had a chance at the packed M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on April 5.
Sarfaraz Khan hits blazing 25-ball fifty against RCB
The five-time IPL champions had a disastrous start of their massive chase against the defending champions in Bengaluru. Chasing the massive 251-run target, Sanju Samson, Ruturaj Gaikwad, and Ayush Mhatre were back in the dugout with single-digit scores.
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CSK was struggling at 30/3 within the first three overs, and that’s when Sarfaraz took charge and changed his image, as the Mumbaikar is known more as a red-ball specialist. The right-handed batter counterattacked from the very first ball with clean strokes and brave decisions against the RCB attack.
He turned a hopeless chase into a small ray of belief with a brilliant 50 off just 25 balls before being undone by the RCB spinner Krunal Pandya. However, CSK still lost the IPL 2026 game by 43 runs to RCB in Bengaluru, yet a heartwarming gesture involving Virat Kohli won hearts online.
Virat Kohli’s heartwarming gesture for Sarfaraz Khan wins the Internet
As Sarfaraz Khan returned to the CSK dugout, the M Chinnaswamy Stadium witnessed a moment that melted hearts. One of RCB’s biggest icons Virat Kohli, who was standing near the ring, clapped for Sarfaraz and acknowledged the courage the batter had shown.
The viral video shows Kohli calling out to the CSK batter and even giving him a thumbs-up before clapping for his fearless knock. The video went viral on social media, proving once again Kohli never fails to push young talent forward and appreciate his talent, no matter if he is on the opposite side.
पवेलियन लौटते समय कोहली ने सरफराज को सीटी बजाकर उनकी बल्लेबाजी की सराहना की और ताली बजाई। कोहली का यह प्यारा सा भाव था। ❤️🙌🏻 pic.twitter.com/N7v5AVPvRz
— ममता ट्राबल (@Mamtasulaniya) April 5, 2026
Interestingly, Kohli and Sarfaraz Khan have already shared the dressing room of the RCB in the league. He played under the former Indian captain’s leadership for RCB and even once bowed at the young batter after his 45 off 21 balls against the Rajasthan Royals. They also shared the Indian dressing room in the past.
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Ruturaj Gaikwad praises CSK’s biggest positive in tough IPL 2026 season
Meanwhile, CSK captain Ruturaj Gaikwad also lauded Sarfaraz Khan for his impressive cameos in the ongoing IPL 2026. Gaikwad said in the post-match presentation ceremony: “Well, even I was surprised, to be honest. Great fight by Sarfaraz, Prashant Veer, and Jamie Overton, even to some extent Shivam Dube. So, I think maybe I would have contributed more at the top of the order; you never know, we would have chased it down. So definitely it’s on me today.”
Chennai Super Kings bought Sarfaraz for just ₹75 lakh at the mini-auction, but he has become worth much more during the team’s tough phase in the ongoing IPL 2026. Even in the previous match against Punjab Kings, the Mumbai batter played a fiery cameo of 32 off only 12 balls.