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A seemingly innocent moment during the IPL 2025 opening ceremony at Kolkata’s Eden Gardens ignited a social media frenzy when a clip featuring Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) star Rinku Singh appearing to avoid a handshake with Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) icon Virat Kohli on stage went viral.
The incident unfolded after Bollywood superstar and KKR co-owner Shah Rukh Khan invited both players to join him during the glitzy event. In the widely circulated clip, Kohli extends his hand toward Rinku as they cross paths on stage. However, Rinku walks past without acknowledging the gesture, leaving fans puzzled.
Further, the moment contrasted with their known positive bonding with Kohli gifting Rinku a bat last year and having publicly praised the KKR batter.
Fan Theories Fly
Social media erupted with speculation. Some fans defended Rinku, suggesting he might have been nervous or distracted. “He’s young and new to big stages. Maybe he didn’t notice,” tweeted a supporter.
Others criticized the snub, calling it “disrespectful.” Meanwhile, neutral observers urged caution: “Let’s not overreact. Angles can be misleading,” wrote a sports journalist.
Shah Rukh Khan’s playful hosting added to the drama. He hailed Kohli as the “OG Gen Old” of IPL, referencing his 18-season loyalty to RCB. When asked about the rise of new talents, Kohli quipped, “The bold generation is coming, but the old isn’t done yet!”
Kohli’s Dominance On Field
The off-stage buzz didn’t overshadow Kohli’s on-field brilliance. In the season opener, he smashed an unbeaten 59 off 36 balls, steering RCB to a dominant 7-wicket win over KKR. Additionally, his knock overshadowed Rinku’s quiet outing, as KKR struggled to defend 174 despite Ajinkya Rahane’s 56.
