RCB Sets New IPL Record with Fastest 200+ Chase in Season Opener
RCB vs SRH, IPL 2026: Royal Challengers Bengaluru beat Sunrisers Hyderabad by 6 wickets: Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) started their IPL 2026 campaign in style, defeating Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) by 6 wickets in a high-scoring thriller at M Chinnaswamy Stadium. Hyderabad posted a challenging 201/9, but RCB chased down the target of 202 in just 15.4 overs, losing 4 wickets in the process.
Devdutt Padikkal was the star for RCB, blasting 61 runs off just 26 balls, including 7 fours and 4 sixes. His explosive innings, combined with Virat Kohli’s unbeaten 69 off 38 balls (with 5 fours and 5 sixes), led the team to a comfortable victory. The pair added 101 runs for the second wicket, putting RCB in control of the chase. Captain Rajat Patidar also made a quick-fire 31 runs from 12 balls to further accelerate the chase.
RCB’s pursuit got off to a shaky start, losing Phil Salt for 8, but Padikkal and Kohli’s brilliant partnership ensured the defending champions’ smooth passage to victory. Tim David (16*) was with Kohli at the crease when RCB reached the target.
Earlier, SRH had a poor start with the bat, losing three wickets for just 29 runs, including openers Abhishek Sharma (11), Travis Head (7), and Nitish Kumar Reddy (1). However, Ishan Kishan (80 off 38 balls) and Heinrich Klaasen (31) rescued the innings with a 97-run partnership for the fourth wicket. Aniket Verma’s late cameo of 43 runs off 18 balls, including 3 fours and 4 sixes, helped Hyderabad post a total of 201/9. RCB’s dominant chase and SRH’s late-order collapse made this a memorable opening match for the 2026 season.
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