IPL 2026: Kohli and Padikkal Power RCB to Dominant 6-Wicket Win Over SRH

IPL 2026 season kicked off with a massive statement from the defending champions, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). In a high-scoring encounter at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, RCB chased down a formidable target of 202 runs against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) with a remarkable 26 balls to spare. The victory was fueled by a vintage performance from Virat Kohli and an explosive return to form for Devdutt Padikkal.

SRH Fight Back After Early Shocks

After being put in to bat, Sunrisers Hyderabad faced an immediate crisis, slipping to 29/3 within the first five overs. RCB's debutant pacer, Jacob Duffy, was the star with the ball, dismantling the top order to finish with impressive figures of 3/22.

However, SRH found their savior in stand-in captain Ishan Kishan, who smashed a brilliant 80 off 38 balls. Supported by a late-innings blitz from Aniket Verma (43 off 18), Hyderabad managed to post a competitive total of 201/9 in their 20 overs.

Padikkal-Kohli Show

RCB’s chase hit a minor speed bump when Phil Salt fell early, but that only set the stage for a masterclass. Devdutt Padikkal, back in RCB colors, took the game away from SRH almost instantly. He hammered 61 runs off just 26 balls, including seven boundaries and four massive sixes.

While Padikkal provided the fireworks, Virat Kohli played the perfect anchor before shifting into high gear himself. Kohli remained unbeaten on 69 off 38 balls, sealing the match in the 16th over with a flourish—a sequence of a six and three consecutive fours off Harshal Patel.

Key Match Statistics

Category	Top Performer	Details
Highest Scorer (SRH)	Ishan Kishan	80 (38)
Highest Scorer (RCB)	Virat Kohli	69* (38)
Best Bowling (RCB)	Jacob Duffy	3/22 (4 overs)
Best Bowling (SRH)	David Payne	2/35 (3 overs)

With this 6-wicket win, RCB has not only started their title defense on a high but also signaled that their batting lineup remains the most feared in the tournament.