Royal Challengers Bengaluru lost Faf du Plessis early after Delhi Capitals’ stand-in captain Axar Patel won the toss and opted to bowl at the Chinnaswamy Stadium. That, however, did not deter Virat Kohli, who had already hit two sixes even before du Plessis had perished.

After three overs, RCB were 25-1 when Ishant Sharma came to bowl his second over. Kohli had hit him for a six in his first over. He now edged the first ball past wicketkeeper Abishek Porel for four.

Ishant bowled the second ball on a length, and Kohli dismissed it over the long-on fence for six, gestured at the direction of the ball, and broke into a smile at Ishant.

Ishant came back well. He pitched the third ball on roughly the same length but on an off-stump line, and the ball beat Kohli’s outside edge. The next ball was a wide down the leg side.

Ishant pitched up the next ball outside the off stump and found some movement in the air. Kohli tried to slash at it without moving his feet, but could only manage an outside edge to Porel.

There was, however, no aggressive send-off. Ishant and Kohli, childhood friends who used to traverse miles to attend practice together in Delhi, had a laughing exchange, and Kohli walked back for a 13-ball 27.

RCB finished on 187-8 and Ishant with 3-0-31-1.

Watch the six-and-out of Virat Kohli against Ishant Sharma: