Bengaluru, March 28, 2026 | Royal Challengers Bengaluru made a strong start to their Indian Premier League 2026 campaign with a six-wicket victory over Sunrisers Hyderabad in the season opener at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium.
Kohli Anchors Successful Chase
Star batter Virat Kohli led the run chase with an unbeaten 69 off 38 balls, guiding RCB to overhaul a challenging 202-run target with composure.
He was well supported by Devdutt Padikkal, who scored 61 as an Impact Substitute, and Rajat Patidar, who played a blistering knock of 31 off just 12 deliveries. Their combined efforts ensured RCB chased down the target comfortably and secured two crucial points.
SRH Post 201 Despite Early Setbacks
Batting first, Sunrisers Hyderabad posted a competitive total of 201/9 in their 20 overs. Ishan Kishan anchored the innings with a counter-attacking 80 off 38 balls after early wickets put the team under pressure.
He was supported by a quickfire cameo from Aniket Verma, who scored 43 off 18 balls to push SRH past the 200-run mark.
Duffy Shines on IPL Debut
New Zealand pacer Jacob Duffy emerged as the standout performer with the ball for RCB, claiming three crucial wickets in the powerplay.
He dismissed key batters including Abhishek Sharma and Travis Head, before removing Nitish Reddy to break the backbone of SRH’s top order. Duffy finished with figures of 3/22 and was named Player of the Match on his IPL debut.
Middle-Order Fightback by SRH
After early setbacks, Ishan Kishan stitched a crucial partnership with Heinrich Klaasen to stabilise the innings. However, RCB bowlers struck in the middle overs to regain control before Verma’s late surge added valuable runs.
RCB Chase Built on Strong Partnerships
RCB lost Phil Salt early in the chase, but Kohli and Padikkal capitalised on the powerplay to put the team in a strong position.
After Padikkal’s dismissal, Rajat Patidar accelerated the scoring rate with an explosive innings, ensuring the required run rate remained under control. Kohli then finished the match in style, sealing a comfortable win for RCB.
Strong Start to the Season
With this victory, Royal Challengers Bengaluru have moved to the top of the points table early in the tournament. The comprehensive performance, featuring both strong batting and disciplined bowling, sets a positive tone for their IPL 2026 campaign.
The team will look to build on this momentum in their upcoming matches as the tournament progresses.
