Indian batsman KL Rahul has lastly damaged his silence on the much-talked-about “Kantara celebration” that went viral in the course of the 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL) season. The Lucknow Tremendous Giants (LSG) skipper revealed the emotional and private significance behind his now-iconic gesture, carried out after his match-winning innings in opposition to Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) on the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium.
The Second That Took Social Media by Storm
The incident occurred after Rahul’s unbeaten 93 off 53 balls, which guided LSG to a shocking victory over RCB in entrance of a packed Bengaluru crowd. Following the win, Rahul carried out a robust pose impressed by the Kannada blockbuster Kantara, symbolizing pleasure, belonging, and defiance. The gesture instantly went viral, with followers hailing it as one of the vital iconic celebrations of the IPL season.
Rahul Reveals the Purpose
In a latest interplay, Rahul admitted that the act was not deliberate however got here from deep emotion. “It wasn’t one thing I had rehearsed,” Rahul mentioned. “Quite a bit was happening in my life off the sphere, and that second simply got here out naturally. Possibly it was a mixture of ardour, frustration, and pleasure. I felt like I wanted to make an announcement that night time.”
The Bengaluru-born cricketer, who as soon as performed for RCB, additionally famous that the celebration held additional that means due to his historical past with the venue and the staff. “Enjoying at Chinnaswamy at all times brings again recollections. There have been quite a lot of talks about me and RCB earlier than the season, so it felt particular to do one thing that confirmed what that floor means to me,” he added.
The ‘Kantara’ Connection
Rahul’s celebration mirrored the climactic second from Rishab Shetty’s 2022 movie Kantara, the place the protagonist asserts his religious and emotional connection to his land. The symbolism of “that is my floor” resonated deeply with followers, particularly since Rahul’s gesture was carried out in the identical metropolis the place the movie was set and celebrated.
Curiously, Rahul revealed that he even obtained a name from actor Rishab Shetty after the sport. “Rishab known as me that night time, and we had an excellent snort about it. I did not suppose it could blow up like this,” Rahul mentioned.