Defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) commenced their Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 campaign with a resounding statement, chasing down a daunting 202-run target to secure a six-wicket victory over Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium on Saturday.
The triumphant chase was anchored by the ever-reliable Virat Kohli, who produced an unbeaten masterclass of 69 off 38 deliveries, and was heavily fueled by a blistering 61 off 26 balls from Devdutt Padikkal.
After RCB skipper Rajat Patidar won the toss and elected to bowl, SRH found themselves in deep trouble early on. The visitors were reduced to 29 for 3 within the first five overs, courtesy of a brilliant spell by RCB debutant Jacob Duffy, who claimed impressive figures of 3 for 22. However, stand-in SRH captain Ishan Kishan launched a phenomenal counter-attack, smashing 80 off just 38 balls to rescue the innings. An explosive late cameo from Aniket Verma, who scored 43 off 18 balls, provided the necessary fireworks to help Hyderabad post a highly competitive 201 for 9.
Yet, a target of 202 proved to be a walk in the park for the reigning champions. After the early dismissal of opener Phil Salt, Kohli and Padikkal joined forces to completely dismantle the SRH bowling attack. The duo stitched together a breathtaking 101-run partnership for the second wicket in a mere 45 deliveries. Padikkal was the early aggressor, bringing up his fifty in just 21 balls with a flurry of thunderous boundaries, while Kohli seamlessly shifted gears using his trademark drives and straight shots.b
Following Padikkal’s departure, captain Patidar kept the momentum alive with a rapid 31 off 12 balls. Kohli, thoroughly in control of the chase, applied the finishing touches in spectacular fashion in the 16th over. He smashed Harshal Patel for a six followed by three consecutive boundaries to stylishly seal the game. RCB reached 203 for 4 in just 15.4 overs, wrapping up the match with 26 balls to spare.
This clinical performance sets the perfect tone for RCB’s title defense, proving that their formidable batting lineup remains one of the most feared in the tournament.
