Watch: Virat Kohli and Sarfaraz’s Bengaluru get-together after nine years

Virat Kohli and Sarfaraz Khan, who once shared a memorable IPL moment in 2015 as members of Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), found themselves batting together in an international Test match for the first time at the same ground i.e. Bengaluru’s M Chinnaswamy Stadium.
Their last viral moment came in the 2015 IPL season when an 18-year-old Sarfaraz played a blistering 21-ball 45 not out for RCB. His audacious strokes that night, including some gravity-defying shots, left his then-captain Kohli in awe. Kohli greeted him with folded hands and a bow in appreciation, a gesture that quickly took social media by storm.
Sarfaraz left RCB in 2018, and their interactions on the field became few and far between. So, it was fitting that their next shared moment came in the first Test between India and New Zealand at the Chinnaswamy Stadium, where they batted together for India in a pressure situation, reigniting memories of their RCB partnership.
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With India trailing New Zealand by 261 runs and both Yashasvi Jaiswal and Rohit Sharma back in the pavilion after a promising start, the burden of rebuilding fell on the shoulders of Sarfaraz and Kohli. Despite the scoreboard pressure, the two found stability on a pitch that had settled down, with Kohli offering steady guidance and composure alongside Sarfaraz’s confident stroke play. Kohli, in his usual counter-attacking style, crossed the milestone of 9,000 Test runs, though he was dropped once by Ajaz Patel at slip.
The pair’s vital 136-run partnership for the third wicket reduced India’s deficit to 125 runs, giving the team much-needed hope. Kohli’s knock of 70 came to a close on the final ball of the day, ending what could have been a perfect session. But the stage was set for Sarfaraz to shine.
On Day 4, Sarfaraz Khan continued his assault alongside Rishabh Pant, reaching his maiden Test century in just 110 balls. His knock, highlighted by 13 boundaries and three sixes, was remarkable for his precision and power. Impressively, only two of his runs came from conventional drives between wide long-off and long-on, showing his wide range of shots.
Kohli, who had walked back to the dressing room the previous day, was seen applauding from the Chinnaswamy stands when Sarfaraz raised his bat to celebrate his hundred. The moment marked a significant milestone for Sarfaraz, as he became only the seventh Indian No. 4 to score a Test century this century. He joins a prestigious list that includes the likes of Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, VVS Laxman, Sourav Ganguly, Ajinkya Rahane, and, of course, Kohli himself.