RCB Triumphs Over Sunrisers in IPL 2026 Opener with Record Chase

In an exhilarating start to the IPL 2026 season, Royal Challengers Bengaluru triumphed over Sunrisers Hyderabad by six wickets. The match featured record-breaking performances, with Virat Kohli and Devdutt Padikkal leading the charge in a historic chase. Kohli's remarkable innings made him the first player to reach 6000 T20 runs, while Padikkal's explosive batting turned the tide in RCB's favor. Despite a shaky start, Sunrisers managed to post a competitive total, but RCB's batting prowess secured a swift victory. Read on for a detailed breakdown of this thrilling encounter.

By Narendra Chaudhary Mar 29, 2026, 01:56 IST

RCB's Spectacular Start to IPL 2026

Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], March 28: The Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) launched the IPL 2026 season with a stunning victory, defeating Sunrisers Hyderabad by six wickets at M Chinnaswamy Stadium on Saturday. The match showcased RCB's remarkable chase, marking the fastest 200-plus run chase in IPL history.

Facing a daunting target of 202 runs, RCB accomplished the feat with 26 balls remaining, driven by the exceptional performances of Virat Kohli and Devdutt Padikkal.

RCB's innings commenced with a few boundaries from Phil Salt, who unfortunately fell early for just eight runs. However, Kohli displayed his classic form, scoring 69 runs off 38 balls, including five sixes. This performance made him the first player to achieve 6000 runs in T20 cricket and the first in IPL history to surpass 4000 runs in successful chases.

Devdutt Padikkal, however, was the star of the middle overs, striking at an impressive rate of 234.62. He scored 61 runs off only 26 balls, hitting four sixes and seven fours, effectively dismantling the Sunrisers' bowling attack. Contributions from Rajat Patidar (31 off 12) and Tim David (16) ensured a smooth finish as RCB reached 203/4 in just 15.4 overs.

Earlier, Sunrisers Hyderabad had a rocky start but managed to recover, finishing with a competitive score of 201/9.

After losing three quick wickets during the power play, Ishan Kishan's brilliant innings and vital contributions from the lower order helped Hyderabad surpass the 200-run mark.

RCB's Jacob Duffy, making his debut, was instrumental in dismantling the Sunrisers' top order, taking two early wickets. Sunrisers lost Abhishek Sharma on the first ball of the third over, followed by Travis Head, leaving them at a mere 23 runs.

The Sunrisers struggled further when Duffy dismissed Nitish Reddy for just one run, leaving them at 49/3 after six overs.

Ishan Kishan and Heinrich Klaasen steadied the innings, bringing the score to 70/3 in eight overs, and later reaching 87/3 after ten overs.

Romario Shepherd ended the dangerous 97-run partnership by taking out Klaasen, who scored 31 runs. In the next over, Suyash Sharma dismissed Salil Arora for nine runs, leaving Sunrisers at 142/5.

Kishan's impressive innings of 80 runs off 38 balls, featuring eight fours and five sixes, came to an end when he was dismissed by Sharma in the 16th over.

Hyderabad lost two more wickets quickly, with Shepherd taking out Harsh Dubey and Bhuvneshwar Kumar dismissing Harshal Patel for a duck. They managed to reach 175/8 by the end of the 18th over.

In the 19th over, Aniket Verma hit two sixes and a four before Shepherd claimed his wicket. Verma's explosive 43 runs off 18 balls included three fours and four sixes. Ultimately, Sunrisers finished their innings at 201/9.

For RCB, Jacob Duffy and Romario Shepherd each took three wickets, while Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Abhinandan Singh, and Suyash Sharma each contributed with one wicket.