The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 kicked off with a thunderous roar at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium on Saturday (March 28) as Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) delivered a statement victory against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH). In a high-octane season opener, RCB chased down a formidable target of 202 with clinical precision, winning by 6 wickets with a staggering 26 balls to spare. The night belonged to the ‘King’ and the ‘Prodigal Son,’ as Virat Kohli and Devdutt Padikkal turned a stiff chase into a stroll in the park, sending the home fans into a frenzy.
Jacob Duffy’s early destruction and Ishan Kishan’s valiant counter in the first innings
Winning the toss and electing to bowl, RCB immediatey put SRH on the back foot thanks to a sensational opening spell by Jacob Duffy. The New Zealand pacer dismantled the SRH top order with surgical precision, removing the dangerous Travis Head (11) and Abhishek Sharma (7) within the first three overs. When Nitish Kumar Reddy fell shortly after, SRH were reeling at 29/3, and a collapse seemed imminent.
However, SRH captain Ishan Kishan staged a heroic rescue act. Playing a true captain’s knock, Kishan blasted 80 runs off just 38 deliveries, peppered with 7 fours and 3 massive sixes. He found temporary support in Heinrich Klaasen (31), as the duo stabilized the innings with a rapid mid-over acceleration. Despite Kishan’s brilliance, RCB’s death bowling remained disciplined. Romario Shepherd emerged as the wrecker-in-chief in the latter half, picking up 3 wickets for 54 runs. SRH eventually clawed their way to 201/9 in 20 overs, a total that looked competitive on a traditionally batting-friendly Bengaluru surface.
Virat Kohli and Devdutt Padikkal take RCB home with their explosive knocks
The chase began with a minor hiccup as Phil Salt departed early for just 8, but that only set the stage for one of the most dominant partnerships in recent IPL history. Kohli and Padikkal took the SRH bowling attack to the cleaners, exhibiting a perfect blend of classic timing and brute force.
Padikkal, returning to the colors where he first rose to fame, was the primary aggressor early on. He reached a blistering fifty in just 21 balls, eventually finishing with 61 runs off 26 balls, including 7 fours and 4 sixes. His departure at 110/2 didn’t slow the momentum, as Kohli took over the mantle of the anchor-aggressor.
Kohli remained unbeaten on 69 off 38 balls, striking at 181.57. His innings was a vintage display of gap-finding and calculated risk-taking, punctuated by 5 towering sixes. Even a brief double-strike by David Payne, which removed Rajat Patidar (31) and Jitesh Sharma (0) in the 13th over, couldn’t derail the train. Kohli, alongside Tim David (16*), guided RCB past the finish line in just 15.4 overs, finishing at 203/4. This emphatic win not only earned RCB two points but also provided a massive boost to their Net Run Rate, marking a perfect start to their 2026 campaign.
Also WATCH: Jacob Duffy folds both SRH openers Abhishek Sharma and Travis Head in single over during IPL 2026 opener
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