Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) batter Venkatesh Iyer joined the batting carnage at the HPCA Stadium in Dharamshala during the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 clash against Punjab Kings (PBKS). RCB piled up a massive total of 222 runs, with Iyer playing a major role through his explosive knock of 73 off just 40 deliveries.
Also Read: IPL 2026: RCB surpass CSK to script historic milestone after posting 222-run total vs PBKS
Venkatesh Iyer recreates Thalapathy Vijay’s viral celebration
Following his sensational half-century, Venkatesh Iyer grabbed attention not only for his batting but also for his celebration. The stylish left-hander recreated Tamil superstar Thalapathy Vijay’s iconic blazing gun gesture, a celebration that has gone viral multiple times among fans of the actor.
Iyer’s entertaining innings included eight boundaries and four towering sixes as he completely shifted the momentum in RCB’s favour during the middle overs. The crowd in Dharamshala erupted after the batter pulled off the famous celebration, with clips quickly going viral across social media platforms.
Despite featuring in only his fourth game of IPL 2026, Iyer has already made a strong impact for the defending champions. The left-handed batter has now scored 114 runs this season at a stunning average of 114 while maintaining a remarkable strike rate of 163.
His innings against PBKS came at a crucial stage, especially with RCB missing regular skipper Rajat Patidar in the contest.
Also Read: ‘This guy always rises above the rest’: CSK legend hails Sunil Narine for spectacular IPL 2026 run
PBKS under pressure in massive run chase
Chasing a daunting target of 223, Punjab Kings found themselves under severe pressure during the latter stages of the innings. At the time of writing, PBKS were placed at 146/5 after 15 overs.
The team still requires 77 runs off the final 30 deliveries to keep their IPL 2026 playoff hopes alive. Early wickets hurt Punjab badly, although the middle order attempted to rebuild the innings after RCB’s aggressive batting display.
With both teams fighting for important points in the business end of the tournament, the result of the clash could significantly influence the playoff race.