Under the floodlights of the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Royal Challengers Bengaluru launched their IPL 2026 campaign with a powerful display against Sunrisers Hyderabad. Virat Kohli, the king of chases, was in sublime form, smashing an unbeaten 69 to steer RCB to a comfortable victory.
The match began with RCB's bowlers setting the tone. Jacob Duffy, fresh off the plane, wasted no time in making an impact. His fiery opening spell pegged back SRH, ending with figures of 3 for 22. The Kiwi pacer was relentless, delivering a lethal mix of yorkers and bouncers, leaving the SRH batting line-up in tatters.
SRH struggled to find any rhythm, with only Aiden Markram providing some resistance with a gritty 42. But it was not enough as they posted a modest total of 145. RCB's bowlers were disciplined, executing their plans flawlessly, with Duffy's performance making him a hot pick for any Dream11 fantasy team.
Chasing 146, RCB faced little trouble. Devdutt Padikkal played his role as the perfect foil to Kohli, scoring a classy 54. The duo stitched together a match-winning partnership, navigating the powerplay cautiously before unleashing an array of strokes that had the crowd on their feet.
Kohli was at his mercurial best, finding gaps with ease and dispatching anything loose. His innings was a masterclass in controlled aggression, a reminder of why he's a must-pick in every Fantasy XI. As Kohli said post-match, "Whenever I come back to play, it's 120%." His dedication was evident in every shot.
As RCB wrapped up the game with 3 overs to spare, they sent a strong message to the rest of the league. Their title defence is off to a flying start, and with Kohli and Duffy firing on all cylinders, they look a formidable side.
Next up, RCB faces the Mumbai Indians, another title contender. With this momentum, they'll be eager to continue their winning streak. All eyes will be on Kohli once again to see if he can reproduce his magic against Mumbai's formidable bowling attack.