Mullanpur:Rajasthan Royals grabbed attention online with a humorous post featuring Donovan Ferreira 'apologising' to Bollywood star Salman Khan after their thrilling win over Punjab Kings in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026.
The light-hearted video quickly went viral, blending cricket action with a nostalgic Bollywood reference that fans loved.
The post was a callback to a 2014 tweet by Salman Khan, where he had asked, 'Zinta's team won kya?' — referring to Preity Zinta, co-owner of Punjab Kings.
In Rajasthan Royals' latest video, Ferreira playfully responded to the old tweet after his match-winning performance, saying: 'Sorry bhai, aaj nahi (Sorry brother, not today!).' The witty crossover instantly struck a chord with fans on social media.
The humour followed a high-octane match where Rajasthan Royals chased down a daunting target of 223 runs. Ferreira emerged as the hero, smashing an unbeaten 52 off just 26 balls.
Promoted up the order in the absence of Shimron Hetmyer, Ferreira capitalised on the opportunity, taking on bowlers like Arshdeep Singh and Lockie Ferguson in the death overs.
He was well supported by Shubham Dubey, who played a quickfire knock of 31 not out off 12 balls, helping RR seal the victory with four balls to spare.
Rajasthan Royals got off to a flying start thanks to Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, who hammered 43 off just 16 balls, including five towering sixes. His aggressive approach initially suggested an easy chase.
However, Punjab Kings fought back through Yuzvendra Chahal, who picked up 3 wickets for 36 runs in his four overs, tightening the contest during the middle phase.
Despite the resistance, Ferreira's late onslaught turned the game decisively in RR's favour.
The defeat marked Punjab Kings' first loss of the IPL 2026 season, ending their unbeaten streak. The result serves as a reality check as the tournament heads into a more competitive phase.
Rajasthan Royals' clever social media response added an extra layer of entertainment to an already thrilling match. By tying Ferreira's performance to Salman Khan's viral tweet, the franchise created a moment that resonated beyond cricket fans.
With a mix of explosive batting and sharp digital engagement, Rajasthan Royals not only secured a memorable win but also dominated the online conversation. Ferreira's match-winning knock and the team's witty post ensured that this game will be remembered both on and off the field.