IPL 2026: RCB vs SRH: Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) started their IPL 2026 season with a six-wicket win over Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) at M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on Saturday, driven by half-centuries from Virat Kohli and Devdutt Padikkal.
RCB achieved 203 for 4 in 15.4 overs on chasing 202. Virat Kohli remained unbeaten on 69 from 38 balls while Padikkal scored 61 off 26 deliveries. After the early dismissal of Phil Salt, the pair added 101 runs for the second wicket in only 45 balls.
Kohli and Padikkal approached their innings differently. Kohli focused on drives and shots straight down the ground while Padikkal relied on timing and placement. With a sequence of 6,4, 6 Devdutt Padikkal attacked pacer David Payne and later hit Harsh Dubey for a boundary and a six in successive deliveries. He achieved his fifty in 21 balls with a four off Harshal Patel.
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Kohli kept the scoring stable, using his range of shots against Jaydev Unadkat and Eshan Malinga. Scoring rate of RCB remained high, with the team achieving 50 in the fourth over, 76 in the powerplay and 100 in 8.1 overs.
Padikkal was eventually dismissed, at long-on caught by Heinrich Klaasen. Heinrich Klaasen had dropped Kohli on 28 earlier who went on to complete his half-century in 33 deliveries.
To keep the chase on track, captain of RCB Rajat Patidar contributed 31 off 12 deliveries. As Virat Kohli completed the chase with a sequence of boundaries off Harshal Patel, the dismissals of Rajat Patidar and Jitesh Sharma did not change the outcome.
Earlier, after being asked to bat first, Sunrisers Hyderabad posted 201 for 9. Skipper Ishan Kishan led the innings with 80 off 38 balls, including eight fours and five sixes. For the fourth wicket with Klaasen who made 31,he added 97 runs.
