Over the course of its exciting IPL 2026 season thus far, we have been treated to many memorable moments- one of them being during the fiery Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Punjab Kings clash. A high-scoring thriller was enjoyed the fans in the match; however, it was not RCB batter Venkatesh Iyer’s bat, rather his kit that caught more attention.
Venkatesh Iyer celebrated his brilliant half-century against PBKS in a fashion that went crazy viral on social media after he made certain headlines. On the other hand, a section of fans felt that RCB star had imitated an iconic pose done by Tamil superstar Vijay aka Thalapathy Vijay. This celebration did create controversy on social media as cricket lovers and movie buffs were trying to find out whether the pose was intentional or a sheer co-incidence.
Venkatesh Iyer’s Explosive Knock Against PBKS
RCB scored 255 to beat PBKSIPL 2026BOXE The long-awaited match between RCB and PBKS was a batting feast. The Punjab bowlers were attacked right from the start by RCB top order who kept on attacking regularly in the innings.
The orchestration came chiefly from Venkatesh Iyer. The southpaw kept the bowlers at bay during his innings, timing the ball as sweet as a nut on all sides of the wicket. This can not be forgotten with lots of boundaries and big sixes which delighted the audience in the stadium as well as millions of viewers around the world.
Iyer got to his fifty and celebrated with a pose that was immediately pounced upon by the cameras. Screenshots and clips of the celebration began to trend on social media almost immediately.
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Why Fans Connected the Celebration With Thalapathy Vijay
This rapid-fire pose of Venkatesh Iyer was compared to one of the most iconic poses given by Thalapathy Vijay from his blockbuster movie, Mersal. Vijay has a huge national following that is mostly based in South India and many fans and celebrities have mimicked his unique style.
This comparison turned into a massive talking point of X, Instagram, and Facebook. Several users shared comparison photos of Vijay and Iyer, alleging that the RCB batter had paid tribute to the actor during their IPL clash.
A few cricket fans even labelled it as one of the best IPL 2026 celebrations ever so far. The moment quickly went viral and was followed by a number of memes, edits and fan-made posters.
Was the Pose Really Inspired by Vijay?
There has been no word from his end either in relation to celebrating it despite this clip going viral. Neither the player nor the RCB management clarified whether the pose was a deliberate tribute to Vijay.
This is why the incident may have turned more into a fan theory rather than an official memorial. But the two poses are so similar to excite both cricket watchers and cinema goers.
Cricket has always intrigued Indian fans in regard to what goes on off the field and moments like these make IPL more interesting. The celebration has created quite the online buzz—whether that’s intentional or not.
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RCB’s Dominant Performance in IPL 2026 Clash
Alongside with the viral celebration, RCB also continue to be effacious in there overall batting performance. The opposition side was put under massive pressure by the team after they posted a mammoth total against Punjab Kings.
The game had some aggressive stroke play, plenty of boundaries and an entertainment fair throughout. RCB could have hardly hoped for a better plan with their batting unit looking like they were firing on all cylinders, but to give the contest an extra spice, there was Venkatesh Iyer’s innings.
RCB was in control of most parts of the game, even though Punjab Kings made a robust reply during the chase. Cricket analysts commended how the Bengaluru outfit had nothing but a fearless story to narrate, and equal progress was also witnessed during that crucial stage of IPL 2026.
Social Media Reaction to the Viral Celebration
While the celebration clip went viral, fans were divided in their responses online. Though many thought it was an obvious reference to thalapathy vijay, others claimed it was only a normal celebration and that the photographers had captured it at the right place.
Many Vijay followers enjoyed the moment and perhaps hoped a cricketer would have welcomed the superstar’s presence, too. IPL fans, on the other hand, loved how swiftly did the moment become one of this week’s talking points.
It was another reminder of the power of social media to take an otherwise innocent moment and turn it into a national debate within hours.
Final Thoughts
The IPL is also notorious for creating some of the most memorable off-the-field moments as well and Venkatesh Iyer’s viral celebration against Punjab Kings, just packed out this narrative. In his explosive innings, fans were already impressed by him but with a hint of connection to Thalapathy Vijay, it turned out to be something special.
Regardless of the intention or coincidence factor, it did manage to evoke excitement amongst cricket and cinema lovers both! With IPL 2026 continuing to creak through the gears, moments like this are ensuring that the tournament still ranks among the most entertaining sporting spectacles in existence.
