RCB crushes SRH in IPL 2026 opener with six-wicket thrashing
Royal Challengers Bengaluru launched their IPL 2026 campaign with a dominant six-wicket win over Sunrisers Hyderabad at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on Saturday evening.
Winning the toss, RCB opted to bowl first. SRH posted 201/9 in their 20 overs, a score built largely on Ishan Kishan's explosive knock of 80 off 38 balls, including 5 sixes and 8 fours. Aniket Verma added 43 off 18 balls lower down the order to push the total past 200. For RCB, Jacob Duffy was the standout bowler with 3 wickets from 4 overs at an economy of just 5.5. Romario Shepherd also picked up 3 wickets, though he was expensive in his later spells.
Chasing 202, RCB got off to a shaky start, losing Phil Salt early for 8. Devdutt Padikkal then took charge with a blistering 61 off 26 balls, hitting 7 fours and 4 sixes at a strike rate of 234. He stitched a 101-run second-wicket stand with Virat Kohli, which all but settled the contest.
Kohli held the innings together from start to finish. He finished unbeaten on 69 off 38 balls, accelerating sharply in the final overs with 5 sixes and 5 fours. Rajat Patidar chipped in with a quick 31 off 12 balls before falling in the 13th over. RCB crossed the line in just 15.4 overs at a run rate of nearly 13, with 4 wickets in hand.
David Payne was SRH's best bowler, picking up 2 wickets, but the required run rate never troubled RCB's batters. Jaydev Unadkat and Harsh Dubey each took a wicket but conceded runs freely.
RCB's batting depth and disciplined new-ball bowling proved too much for SRH on a flat Chinnaswamy track. It was a statement win to open the tournament, and the home crowd had plenty to celebrate by the end of the night.
