New Delhi: The communication breakdown between Phil Salt and Virat Kohli that cost Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) the Indian Premier League (IPL) match against Delhi Capitals (DC) last week has captured the attention of social media, sparking not only memes but also discussions over similar incidents involving Kohli in the past.
On 10 April, RCB’s Salt was firing on all cylinders, taking the team to 61 runs in just 3.5 overs. He clubbed two sixes and three back-to-back boundaries off Mitchell Starc in the third over, racking up 30 runs, including extras. But in the next over, a mix-up with Kohli triggered a chaotic run-out. Kohli’s call left Salt stranded and sent back at the worst possible time.
Over the next 16 overs, RCB could only manage 100 more runs, eventually finishing at 163/7 in their 20 overs. Salt’s dismissal, right when he was in top gear, proved to be the turning point. RCB’s momentum evaporated, giving Delhi Capitals the window to claw their way back.
Social media didn’t hold back. On one hand, DC fans thanked Kohli for helping their team win; on the other, frustrated RCB fans slammed Kohli for the misjudgment, venting their disappointment over what could’ve been a match-defining innings from Salt. Some even went as far as to label him “selfish” and “run-out machine”.
Ran out salt and played a tuk tuk knock
for Delhi Capitals. Virat Chokli 😭😭😭 pic.twitter.com/Viq8h7RrLf
— ‘ (@Ashwin_tweetz) April 10, 2025
Man of the Match was deserved by Virat Kohli
He helped DC to win the match, by making Salt Run Out pic.twitter.com/MKBWgluBcS
— Mustafa Moudi (@Mustafamoudi) April 10, 2025
Virat Kohli today-
Played slow, created pressure on Salt – made him play risky shot he got out, Then Statpadded it 40 runs one or two fluke boundary and strike maintained. This GUY was never made for T20 Cricket.
— '𝐄𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐨𝐫'. (@ImEmper0rr) April 13, 2025
Phil Salt became the New victim of Selfish Kohli 🗣️
Phil salt played very well but genuinely its virat kohli fault for run out 👀.
I will say fairly totally Virat kohli fault 🙏.#ViratKohli | #RCBvsDC #RCBvsDC pic.twitter.com/NyRIKA0Yva
— Sanjay Gurjar 🧢 (@sanjaygurjar_1) April 10, 2025
Virat Kohli the run machine ❌
Run out machine ✅ pic.twitter.com/asAYHJ6nJg
— Ro (@VascoDGaama) April 11, 2025
String of run-outs
Despite being one of the best runners between the wickets, Kohli has been part of several high-profile run-outs during his career, often finding himself at the non-striker’s end when the dismissal occurs.
These incidents typically involve miscommunication or a split-second decision, where the striker ends up sacrificing their wicket. Kohli’s intensity and eagerness to convert singles into twos or steal quick singles has occasionally led to confusion, especially with partners less attuned to his urgency.
Even players like Rohit Sharma and M.S. Dhoni have been caught in such scenarios, where the mix-up resulted in them walking back to the pavilion.
Critics and fans have often pointed out a pattern—Kohli usually survives, while his partner pays the price. This has sparked debates around whether his calls are too aggressive or if his partners fail to match his game awareness.
Following Salt’s run-out against Delhi Capitals, the internet was quick to resurface old statistics, painting Kohli as a common factor in such scenarios.
While there’s no official, comprehensive database tracking these dismissals, social media is full of figures that seem significant. However, without verified data, these claims remain anecdotal and open to interpretation.
“Since 2020, virat kohli has been involved in 158 run outs across all formats. Out of these, his partner has been the one dismissed 151 times. just luck? or is the chase master also the escape master?” one user said in a post on X.
since 2020, virat kohli has been involved in 158 run outs across all formats. out of these, his partner has been the one dismissed 151 times. just luck? or is the chase master also the escape master?#ViratKohli #PhilSalt #RCBvDC #PrithviShaw pic.twitter.com/Puq9ZuAjKw
— desi sigma (@desisigma) April 11, 2025
A Reddit post after the match further shared statistics on Kohli’s IPL run-out record, claiming he has been involved in 32 run-outs in his career in the short-format game. In eight of those run-outs, he was dismissed himself, while his partners have been the casualties on 24 occasions. The post quickly gained traction across social media platforms.
Virat Kohli has been involved in 32 run outs in his IPL career so far. 32 run outs in IPL – 8 himself, 24 his partners!
byu/Noobmastter-3000 inCricket
Meanwhile, ESPNcricinfo’s logs show that Kohli has been involved in 40 run-out incidents in T20s overall, with 15 of those resulting in his own dismissal. Kohli, himself, has never reacted to this.
‘Cardinal sin’
ThePrint also analysed international data, revealing over 30 instances of run-outs involving Kohli across formats—19 in One Day Internationals, 9 in Tests, and 7 in T20Is.
Players like M.S. Dhoni, Rohit Sharma, and Virender Sehwag, as well as youngsters like Yashasvi Jaiswal and Rishabh Pant have all been caught in the mix-ups. In the long list, Rohit Sharma appears four times, while Axar Patel, Shikhar Dhawan, and MS Dhoni feature thrice.
Interestingly, several of the run-outs involving Kohli have occurred when the batter at the striker’s end is well-set. For instance, when Axar Patel was on 47 during the T20 World Cup final against South Africa, Suryakumar Yadav was on 61 against South Africa in 2022, and Virender Sehwag fell for 96 against Sri Lanka in 2012.
Another notable incident was Yashasvi Jaiswal’s dismissal in the fourth Test against Australia in 2024. Jaiswal was batting at 82 off 118 balls before a mix-up with Kohli (on 36) led to a disastrous run-out. His dismissal provided Australia with a crucial breakthrough and triggered a storm on social media.
At the time, former cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar didn’t hold back, calling Kohli’s role in the incident a “cardinal sin”.
Cricket fans on social platforms echoed that sentiment, criticising the veteran batter’s poor judgement.
What an unfortunate dismissal for Jaiswal and Kohli again at the crime scene.. So today this is gonna be the main focus of discussion and Rohit sharma will escape the Criticism yet again 🤣🤣🤣
— Archer (@poserarcher) December 27, 2024
Virat Kohli in this match so far.
Pushed a 19 year old on field, got a 22 year old Yashasvi Jaiswal run out and himself got out even before the night watchman got out.
Man is totally in destruction mode. Get him retired before team India suffers any big damage.
— EngiNerd. (@mainbhiengineer) December 27, 2024
On the other hand, there are dismissals with players on zero or low scores as well—Pant, Bumrah, or Umesh Yadav—suggesting high pressure or poor judgement early in their innings.
(Edited by Sanya Mathur)
Also Read: The bright, the unlucky & the outsider: A look at young captains in the IPL 2025 season