In what was expected to be just another intense IPL 2025 showdown, the post-match scenes at the Arun Jaitley Stadium between Delhi Capitals and Kolkata Knight Riders took a surprising and controversial turn. Shortly after Delhi’s narrow 14-run defeat to the defending champions, a clip surfaced online showing Delhi spinner Kuldeep Yadav slapping KKR’s Rinku Singh — not once, but twice.
The video, captured by live television cameras and now viral across social media platforms, showed Kuldeep in the company of Rinku and a few other players laughing together after the match. In the middle of the light-hearted exchange, Kuldeep suddenly slapped Rinku.
The gesture seemed playful but Rinku appeared caught off guard and slightly embarrassed. The situation took a more serious turn when Kuldeep repeated the act, prompting a visibly irritated Rinku to exchange words with his India teammate.
With no audio accompanying the footage, the context behind the interaction remains a mystery. Commentators chose not to dwell on the incident during the post-match discussion, leaving viewers and fans to speculate. Reactions online were swift and intense, with many expressing disappointment in Kuldeep’s actions. Some labelled it his worst on-field behaviour, while others went as far as to demand disciplinary action from the BCCI.
Here is the video and some selected reactions:
https://x.com/kyabataubhai/status/1917295578788098232
https://x.com/Bobby04432594/status/1917278600253854051
https://x.com/dharma_watch/status/1917302950474535073
https://x.com/SoansShine/status/1917306634667450566
https://x.com/desisigma/status/1917476830933553240
https://x.com/GGurtej/status/1917313354605158656
https://x.com/Abhishek__SP/status/1917444696676209069
https://x.com/DrYashTiwari/status/1917459990975242641
The tension came after a frustrating evening for Delhi Capitals, who suffered their second straight home loss. Just days earlier, they were positioned securely in the second spot on the points table, with only two wins needed to seal a playoff berth. However, defeats to Royal Challengers Bengaluru and now Kolkata Knight Riders have seen them drop to the fourth place, marking their fourth loss of the season and third at home.
In Tuesday’s clash, KKR were sent in to bat and capitalised early, putting up a competitive 204 for nine. Their top order fired in unison, setting the tone for a high-scoring affair. In reply, Delhi Capitals stumbled early at 62 for three within the first seven overs. A strong stand between Faf du Plessis who scored 62, and skipper Axar Patel who added 43, brought them back into contention with a 76-run partnership. However, Kolkata’s Sunil Narine had other plans. His spell of three for 29, including vital breakthroughs at crucial moments, derailed DC’s chase. Despite their efforts, Delhi fell short, managing 190 for nine by the end of 20 overs.
While the match itself was fiercely contested, it is the Kuldeep Yadav-Rinku Singh exchange that has dominated headlines. What was likely meant as a moment of camaraderie has now raised serious questions about on-field conduct and player interactions in the high-pressure IPL environment.
