RCB vs SRH: Defending Champions Start with a Bang! Kohli & Padikkal Crush SRH in IPL 2026 Opener
The defending champions, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), proved exactly why they wear the crown, kicking off their IPL 2026 campaign with a dominant 6-wicket victory over Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH). In a high-octane season opener at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, the "Men in Royal Blue" chased down a formidable target of 202 with 26 balls to spare.
Match Highlights: A Power-Packed Chase After winning the toss and opting to bowl, RCB’s debutant Jacob Duffy set the tone with a brilliant 3/22. Despite a valiant 80 off 38 balls from SRH’s stand-in captain Ishan Kishan, the Hyderabad side finished at 201/9. The chase was a masterclass in aggressive batting: Virat Kohli: 69* (38 balls) – A classic "Chase Master" knock to seal the win. Devdutt Padikkal: 61 (26 balls) – Providing the explosive start RCB needed.MAXIMUM Entertainment 🍿@devdpd07 🤝 @imVkohli doing it in style 🔥#RCB 76/1 after 6 overs in the chase.
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) March 28, 2026
Updates ▶️ https://t.co/Eo5z0jh4K4 #TATAIPL | #KhelBindaas | #RCBvSRH | @RCBTweets pic.twitter.com/2A0mt3ktlB
Rajat Patidar: 31 (12 balls) – A quickfire captain’s cameo to keep the momentum Result: RCB won by 6 wickets. Player of the Match: Jacob Duffy (3/22)Picking up exactly where they left off! ❤️
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) March 28, 2026
Defending champions #RCB kick off their #TATAIPL 2026 campaign with a clinical, comprehensive victory over #SRH 👏
Updates ▶️ https://t.co/Eo5z0jh4K4 #KhelBindaas | #RCBvSRH | @RCBTweets pic.twitter.com/q3IAaMP3LK
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