Watch: Virat Kohli and Sarfaraz Khan’s meeting in Bengaluru after nine years

Virat Kohli and Sarfaraz Khan, who shared an unforgettable IPL moment as members of Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in 2015, found themselves playing in an international Test match at the same ground for the first time, M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.

Their last viral moment came in the 2015 IPL season when 18-year-old Sarfaraz played a stunning 21-ball 45 not out for RCB. His bold shots that evening, including some gravity-defying shots, left his then captain Kohli in awe. Kohli greeted him with folded hands and an appreciative bow, a gesture that quickly took social media by storm.

Sarfaraz left RCB in 2018 and their on-field interactions became increasingly rare. So it was fitting that their next moment together came in the first Test between India and New Zealand at the Chinnaswamy Stadium, where they fought together for India in a pressure situation and rekindled the 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 pressure on the scoreboard, the pair found stability on a pitch that had settled, with Kohli providing steady leadership and composure alongside Sarfaraz’s confident strokeplay. Kohli, in his usual counter-attacking style, crossed the 9,000 Test run mark but was once dropped at slip by Ajaz Patel.

The pair’s crucial 136-run partnership for the third wicket reduced India’s deficit to 125 runs and gave the team much-needed hope. Kohli’s score of 70 came on the last ball of the day, capping a perfect session. But the stage was set for Sarfaraz to shine.

On the 4th day Sarfaraz Khan continued his attack alongside Rishabh Pant, he achieved his first Test century in just 110 balls. His batting, highlighted by 13 boundaries and three sixes, was notable for its precision and power. Impressively, only two of his runs came from conventional runs between wide and wide, showing his wide range of shots.

Kohli, who had gone back to the dressing room the day before, was seen applauding from the Chinnaswamy stand as 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 Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, VVS Laxman, Sourav Ganguly, Ajinkya Rahane and of course Kohli himself.