IPL 2026 kicked off in Bengaluru for the first time since 2008, and defending champions RCB made it count. Virat Kohli smashed an unbeaten 69 off 38 balls to chase down 203 with 26 balls to spare. Ishan Kishan scored a brilliant 80 on his captaincy debut for SRH, but it wasn’t enough. RCB won by 6 wickets and sent a clear message to the rest of the league.

For the first time since 2008, IPL’s opening match returned to M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru. RCB fans had been waiting 18 long years for this moment. And the defending champions didn’t disappoint. A sold-out crowd, a high-voltage chase, and Virat Kohli doing what he does best. IPL 2026 started in the best way possible.

Did Ishan Kishan’s Captaincy Debut Give SRH Enough?

Ishan Kishan scored 80 runs off 38 balls on his SRH captaincy debut, making him the sixth-highest scorer in IPL captaincy debut history. At 27 years and 253 days old, he also became SRH’s second-youngest skipper ever, behind Kane Williamson. His innings kept SRH alive after a tough powerplay.

But the foundations cracked early. Jacob Duffy, making his IPL debut for RCB, took 3 wickets in the powerplay and helped restrict SRH to just 49/3 in 6 overs

Kishan counterattacked brilliantly through the middle overs. In the 12th over, he hit Kunal Pandya for three sixes, scoring 22 runs off that one over alone. It’s a well-known cricket fact that bowling left-arm spinners to left-handed batters often results in punishment, and Kishan proved that point emphatically.

He was finally dismissed for 80 off 38 balls in the 16th over, caught off Abhinandan Singh’s delivery. SRH finished at 201/9.

How Did Virat Kohli Chase Down 203 Like It Was Nothing?

Virat Kohli is called the chase master for a reason. RCB needed 203 to win, and he made it look comfortable. He completed his half-century in the 14.2nd over and finished unbeaten on 69 off 38 balls, hitting 5 fours and 5 sixes.

RCB’s top order did the heavy lifting. Rajat Patidar smashed 61 off 26 balls, Devdutt Padikkal contributed 31 off 12, and Jitesh Sharma chipped in with 16* off 10. The team reached 203/4 in just 18.4 overs, with 26 balls to spare.

This is why Kohli is considered the greatest batter in IPL history. He left off exactly where he finished last season, when he led RCB to their maiden IPL title.

RCB also set a new record in this match, posting 126/2 in the first 10 overs of their chase, the third-highest 10-over total in their IPL history.

Match Summary

Team	Score	Overs	Result
Sunrisers Hyderabad	201/9	20.0	Lost
Royal Challengers Bengaluru	203/4	18.4	Won by 6 wickets

Top SRH Batters:

Batter	Runs	Balls
Ishan Kishan	80	38
Aniket	43	18
Klaasen	31	22

Top RCB Batters:

Batter	Runs	Balls
Virat Kohli	69*	38
Rajat Patidar	61	26
Devdutt Padikkal	31	12

A Special Tribute That Made This Match Even More Meaningful

Before the match even started, there was an emotional moment. RCB players wore training kits with jersey number 11 as a tribute to the 11 people who lost their lives in the Bengaluru stampede tragedy last year. It was a powerful reminder that cricket is bigger than just a game.

This made the home crowd even more united behind RCB from ball one.

What Does This Win Mean for RCB’s Title Defense?

RCB are defending champions going into IPL 2026, and a home win in the opener sets the tone perfectly. Travis Head could only manage 11 off 9 for SRH, which will be a concern for their camp.

For RCB, the bowling depth looks real. Jacob Duffy and Abhinandan Singh both impressed on debut. Yash Dayal (3/56) was expensive but effective when it mattered. And with Kohli in this kind of form, chasing any total looks possible.

Back-to-back titles? It’s still early, but RCB fans have every reason to believe.

Want to know how much your favorite cricket and sports stars earn? Check out more player profiles and net worth breakdowns on imdevendra.com.

Frequently Asked Questions