Kohli Blows Kiss to Anushka After Leading RCB to Commanding IPL Opener Win

Bengaluru, March 2026 : Virat Kohli stole the limelight off the field as well as on it after guiding Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) to a six-wicket triumph over Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in the IPL 2026 season opener at M Chinnaswamy Stadium. Following the victory, Kohli turned to the stands and blew a flying kiss to his wife Anushka Sharma, who was seated alongside Indian senior women’s team players, including RCB women’s captain Smriti Mandhana, drawing cheers from the home crowd and adding a personal touch to an already memorable evening.

On a two-paced pitch, SRH, asked to bat first, posted a challenging 201/9, thanks largely to captain Ishan Kishan, who smashed a scintillating 80 off just 38 balls, including eight fours and five sixes. A late cameo from Aniket Verma—43 off 18 balls—further pushed the visitors past the 200-run mark. Despite impressive bowling figures from Jacob Duffy (3-22) and Romario Shepherd (3-54), SRH fell short of setting a truly intimidating target as their late-innings acceleration proved costly.

Chasing 202, RCB’s top order launched an aggressive response. Devdutt Padikkal raced to 61 off 26 balls, hitting seven fours and four sixes, setting the tone for the chase. Kohli, making his return to T20 cricket after ten months, mesmerized the crowd with 69 not out off 38 balls, marked by five fours and five sixes. The duo’s seamless partnership kept the scoreboard ticking and dampened SRH’s bowling momentum.

Rajat Patidar contributed a blistering 31 off 12 balls, ensuring RCB completed the chase with 26 balls to spare. Padikkal reached his fifty in just 21 balls, his fastest in IPL history, before being dismissed by Harsh Dubey. Kohli then took full command, unleashing his trademark shots—a loft over the bowler, a whip over square leg, and a flat-batted drive through cover—demonstrating his class and finishing off the innings with authority.

The victory not only marked a sensational start for the defending champions but also highlighted Kohli’s enduring ability to dominate games, both as a player and as a charismatic presence, as seen in his affectionate gesture to Anushka Sharma. RCB’s comprehensive performance sent a strong message to the rest of the IPL 2026 contenders.

Brief Scores: SRH 201/9 in 20 overs (Ishan Kishan 80, Aniket Verma 43; Jacob Duffy 3-22, Romario Shepherd 3-54) lost to RCB 203/4 in 15.4 overs (Virat Kohli 69*, Devdutt Padikkal 61; David Payne 2-35, Jaydev Unadkat 1-29) by six wickets.