Bengaluru, March 28: Defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) kicked off their IPL 2026 campaign in sensational fashion, dominating Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) by six wickets in the tournament opener at M Chinnaswamy Stadium on Saturday. Chasing a challenging target of 202, RCB made light work of the total, reaching 203/4 in just 15.4 overs, powered by fluent half-centuries from Virat Kohli and Devdutt Padikkal.
Kohli, returning to T20 cricket after a ten-month hiatus, remained unbeaten on 69 off 38 balls, hitting five fours and as many sixes. His 64th IPL fifty thrilled the Chinnaswamy crowd, while Padikkal provided a masterclass in timing and wristy stroke-play, scoring a whirlwind 61 off 26 balls with seven fours and four sixes. Captain Rajat Patidar added a quickfire 31 off 12 balls, ensuring the target was overhauled with 26 balls to spare.
SRH posted a competitive 201/9, with notable contributions from Ishan Kishan (80) and Aniket Verma (43), but their bowling attack could not withstand the RCB onslaught. Veteran left-arm seamer Jaydev Unadkat struck early, removing Phil Salt in his very first over with a length ball that popped up to mid-off, narrowly avoiding a collision between fielders.
Padikkal immediately responded with authority, flicking over deep square leg for six, while Kohli opened his account with a stylish slice over mid-off. Padikkal raced to 28 off 10 balls, smashing debutant David Payne for a six over cover-point, followed by a four and another six, propelling RCB to 51/1 in just four overs.
Kohli soon joined the assault, dispatching Unadkat’s cutters through cover with precision and lofting deliveries over mid-on and square leg. Padikkal added two more boundaries, as RCB dominated the powerplay with 73/1. Kohli then delighted the crowd with a trademark loft over Eshan Malinga, earning a reprieve on 28 when Heinrich Klaasen misjudged a chance at long-on.
Padikkal raced to a 21-ball half-century, his fastest in IPL history, before holing out to long-off against Dubey for 61. Kohli maintained momentum, unleashing a whip over square leg off Harshal Patel and another six off Dubey. Patidar joined the party, striking crisp boundaries and lofting deliveries over long-on, particularly punishing Malinga with a four and two sixes in the 12th over.
Though Patidar and Jitesh Sharma fell in quick succession to Payne, Kohli marched on, bringing up his fifty in 33 balls. Tim David provided late-fire support with two quick boundaries. Kohli then finished the chase in style, carving and lofting Patel for a six and two fours, ultimately completing the emphatic six-wicket victory with a delicate upper-cut through third man.
Brief Scores:
Sunrisers Hyderabad: 201/9 in 20 overs (Ishan Kishan 80, Aniket Verma 43; Jacob Duffy 3-22, Romario Shepherd 3-54)
Royal Challengers Bengaluru: 203/4 in 15.4 overs (Virat Kohli 69*, Devdutt Padikkal 61; David Payne 2-35, Jaydev Unadkat 1-29)
This dominant performance sent a strong message from RCB: they are ready to defend their crown, with Kohli and Padikkal setting the tone for what promises to be an electrifying IPL 2026 season.
