It’s a rare sight these days to see Virat Kohli and Sachin Tendulkar together. Over a decade has passed since they were teammates, and their paths have changed. Tendulkar was caught up in the wedding of his son Arjun, while Kohli, after a series against New Zealand in January, went to London before starting preparations for the IPL 2026.
However, when these two cricketing giants meet, it is always a special moment for fans. The two were seen together after a thrilling match where the Royal Challengers Bengaluru defeated Mumbai Indians by 18 runs. During the customary post-match handshakes, Kohli stopped to share a heartfelt hug with his idol, Tendulkar. The warmth of their exchange and the smiles on their faces were visible. Kohli, who grew up watching Tendulkar, is now considered the face of Indian cricket, a role Tendulkar once held. Throughout Kohli’s journey, Tendulkar acted as a mentor, guiding him through difficult patches, including Kohli’s challenging 2014 Test tour of England.
Sachin matched the warmth with his own gesture
What made their meeting even more touching was Tendulkar’s affectionate gesture in return. After asking Kohli something related to his family, Tendulkar gave him an encouraging pat on the back, before they moved on to greet the other players.
King Kohli and Sachin Tendulkar ❤️
Two generations Two GOATs 🐐 🤝🐐 pic.twitter.com/ihmerKpNic— Kohlity︎ ︎ ︎ ︎ ︎ ︎ ︎ ︎ ︎ ︎ ︎ ︎ ︎ ︎ ︎ ︎ ︎ ︎ (@kohlityvk18) April 12, 2026
The bond between Kohli and Tendulkar is built on deep mutual respect. Kohli has often spoken about the immense influence Tendulkar has had on his career. There are moments that stand out, like when Kohli carried Tendulkar on his shoulders after India’s 2011 World Cup victory and again in 2013, after Tendulkar’s farewell match. During the 2016 World T20, Kohli, after helping India beat Pakistan, made a gesture of respect by saluting Tendulkar, who responded with a thumbs-up. A similar display of admiration occurred at the 2023 World Cup when Kohli broke Tendulkar’s record for the most ODI centuries.
The reunion of Kohli and Tendulkar was the perfect conclusion to an exciting game. Kohli, helped his team post a massive total of 240/4, a score Mumbai Indians couldn’t chase.
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