Kohli, Padikkal Power RCB to Six-Wicket Win in IPL 2026 Opener

March 29, 2026: Virat Kohli smashed an unbeaten 38-ball 69, and Devdutt Padikkal scored 61 as Royal Challengers Bengaluru defeated Sunrisers Hyderabad by six wickets in the IPL opener on Saturday, March 28, 2026.

Asked to bat first, Sunrisers Hyderabad scored 201 for nine. Stand-in captain Ishan Kishan led from the front with a 38-ball 80 after his team was reduced to 29 for three in the fifth over. Ankit Verma added 43 off just 18 balls.

In reply, defending champions RCB completed the chase in 15.4 overs. Devdutt Padikkal (61 off 26 balls), Virat Kohli, and Rajat Patidar (31 off 12 balls) were the main contributors with the bat for RCB.

Debutant Jacob Duffy was the best bowler for RCB, taking 3 wickets for 22 runs in four overs.

We start as we need to continue. 🤷‍♂️

We go again next Sunday. 👍#PlayBold #ನಮ್ಮRCB #IPL2026 #RCBvSRH pic.twitter.com/DCEtWPBzsk

— Royal Challengers Bengaluru (@RCBTweets) March 28, 2026

RCB Chase 202 with Authority

Chasing 202 to win, Royal Challengers Bengaluru lost Phil Salt early but quickly recovered as Virat Kohli joined Devdutt Padikkal to take control in the powerplay. Exploiting the field restrictions, RCB reached a strong 76 for no loss at the end of six overs, setting the tone for the chase.

Padikkal was the star with the bat, continuing his impressive domestic form. Used as an Impact Player, the left-hander smashed 61 off 26 balls, hitting six fours and four sixes with perfect timing and placement. Rajat Patidar then played a quick cameo of 31 off 12 balls, further consolidating RCB’s position and putting the game largely beyond SunRisers Hyderabad.

Kohli played a measured yet impactful innings, supporting Padikkal and Patidar while anchoring the chase. He brought up his fifty in 33 balls, marking his 64th IPL fifty and extending his record for the most 50+ scores in IPL history. He also crossed 4,000 runs while batting second in the IPL, becoming only the second player to reach this milestone. Kohli finished unbeaten on 69 off 38 balls, hitting 18 runs in the final over to guide RCB to a comfortable and commanding victory.

Dev 🤝 Virat. ❤️

Game ONE and it was Game ON! Here’s to more match-winning partnerships! 🔥#PlayBold #ನಮ್ಮRCB #IPL2026 #RCBvSRH pic.twitter.com/MK1lqZldNx

— Royal Challengers Bengaluru (@RCBTweets) March 28, 2026

Brief scores:

Sunrisers Hyderabad: 201/9 in 20 overs (Ishan Kishan 80, Ankit Verma 43; Jacob Duffy 3/22). 
Royal Challengers Bengaluru: 203/4 in 15.4 overs (Devdutt Padikkal 61, Virat Kohli 69 not out).
Result: Royal Challengers Bengaluru won by 6 wickets with 26 balls remaining