RCB vs SRH highlights, IPL 2026: Virat Kohli, Devdutt Padikkal power Bengaluru to start title defense with 6-wicket win

Ishan Kishan: I think definitely the wicket played well after the first 3-4 overs. You know, we lost a few early wickets, and we have to take care of that maybe next time because, looking at the wicket in the second innings, it was pretty much easier to bat on and the ball was coming on quite well. So yeah, we’ll have to be a little smart with the shot selection next time. But yeah, we did well after losing track, which gives a lot of confidence to us. You know, especially you have to give some credit to the batters as well, the way they batted, especially Virat Bhai while chasing. It’s very important to get his wicket as soon as possible. Otherwise, if he keeps on going, it’s hard to stop him. We’ll have to work a little hard. It’s the first game and these mistakes are acceptable for now. We’ll be a little more cautious with the bowling, areas where we need to execute, and we might be stronger from this game. I actually enjoyed it a lot, you know, enjoyed every moment of it. It’s IPL, so sometimes nerves are there. But we’ll get better with this as a team. What else can I say about the captaincy? If we win the games coming ahead, it will be much easier for us going ahead in the tournament.

Virat Kohli finishes the game with 6, 4, 4, 4 off Harshal Patel as RCB win by 6 wickets to start their title defense. RCB home home in 15.4 overs in reply to SRH's 201/9.

Fifty for Virat Kohli, his 64th in IPL. The former RCB skipper reaches the milestone with a single off David Payne as his team slowly inches towards the victory. Meanwhile, Tim David keeps the scoreboard ticking with a four and a six. RCB 185/4 (15)

OUTTT!!! David Payne is brought into the attack and he strikes immediately. Rajat Patidar goes after a wide delivery, gets a top edge and Harsh Dubey does the rest. Patidar departs for 12-ball 31. OUTTT!! Two wickets in two balls for Payne. Jitesh Sharma comes and goes. RCB 163/4 (12.3)

After Virat Kohli, Rajat Patidar wants to finish early. The RCB skipper smacks two sixes and a four off Eshan Malinga to inch near the target. RCB 162-2 (12)

There is no stopping RCB tonight. The defending champions are playing just like the champions as Rajat Patidar and Virat Kohli keep their flurry of boundaries coming in every over, this time two maximums from each of the two off Harsh Dubey. RCB 140-2 (11)

WOW!! Virat Kohli just rolls his wrists for a six off Harshal Patel over deep mid-wicket. The likes of Dale Steyn and Sunil Gavaskar can't keep calm at the commentator's box. Four more to skipper Rajat Patidar. RCB 126-2 (10)

OUTTT!!!! Big wicket for SRH and Harsh Dubey. Devdutt Padikkal, who smoked a six and a four in the previous two balls, goes for the biggie once again but didn't get the elevation. Heinrich Klaasen takes the catch as Padikkal walks back for 61 off 26 balls. RCB 111/2 (9)

Fifty for DDP!! Devdutt Padikkal gets to his half-century in just 21 balls, with a four over the bowler's head. Things aren't going well for SRH and Ishan Kishan at the moment. RCB 99/1 (8)

Eshan Malinga is brought into the attack but RCB continue their attack. The Sri Lankan was welcomed with with late slap over point by Devdutt Padikkal, before Virat Kohli gets six more in a hold-the-moment shot over long off. RCB 89-1 (7)

Baring the Phil Salt wicket, it's been a Devdutt Padikkal show all through. The Karnataka left-hander hammered sixes for fun for his 17-ball 41 while Virat Kohli is enjoying from the other end. RCB 76/1 (6)

If Devdutt Padikkal had his time in the previous over, Virat Kohli takes over the crowd with a six and a four off Jaydev Unadkat. Kohli is just playing to the field. The stand between the two crosses 50 in no time.

Devdutt Padikkal is on the charge after the dismissal of Phil Salt. After smacking Nitish Kumar Reddy for two fours in the previous over, the Karnataka batter welcomes debutant David Payne with back-to-back sixes. Virat Kohli is batting at the other end. Padikkal walks down the pitch to pick the ball over the boundary. ifty comes up for the hosts. RCB 51/1 (4)

OUTTTT!!!! What a start by SRH and Jaydev Unadkat. Phil Salt, who was electric on the field, goes for the biggie is caught by Heinrich Klaasen. The South African almost collides with another fielder but keeps his calm to take the catch in Unadkat's first over. RCB 21/1 (2)

Aniket Verma: t’s a very good wicket. I’m happy that the team total crossed 200, and hopefully we can defend it. From the very first shot, I had a feeling that today might be my day. It was the last ball, so I was just trying to tap it for a single. I got a bit overexcited, but I was going for a single on that last ball. We saw with the new ball, it was swinging and skidding nicely, so that will help our team. According to the field, the bowler had a wide deep point, so I felt he would bowl wide outside off, hence I decided to play that scoop shot.

From being three down inside the powerplay to finish at 201/9 in 20 overs, SRH have turned it around, thanks to captain Ishan Kishan's 40 and a valuable 18-ball 43 by Aniket Verma at the end. For RCB, Jacob Duffy did most of the damage with 3/22 in his four overs.

6, 4, 6 for Aniket Verma. The Indian youngster is making all the noise tonight with a hattrick of sixes of Romario Shepherd. It is the same Aniket who made everyone stand up and notice last year. RCB are in pressure right now as SRH chase 200-run mark. OUTTTT!!! Shepherd finally has the last laught as Aniket holes out to Virat Kohli. SRH 192/9 (19)

Bhuvneshwar Kumar gets the wicket of Harshal Patel. David Payne comes out as an Impact sub. Meanwhile, Virat Kohli has dropped Aniket Verma earlier in the over. SRH 175-8 (18)

OUTTT!!! SRH keep losing wickets at every over. After Ishan Kishan, Harsh Dubey walks back without troubling the scorers much. Romario Shepherd gets a wicket on the night. SRH 167/7 (17)

Abhinandan is not having the best debut. After being smacked for 16 runs in his first over by Ishan Kishan, the UP pacer has been leaking runs as Aniket Verme becomes the latest to go over the ropes. For the unknown. Abhinandan came into the reckoning after dismissing Virat Kohli twice during the intra-squad matches. OUTTT!!! What a catch by Phil Salt at the boundary to dismiss Ishan Kishan. After being smashed for a six in the previous ball, Kishan goes again, but Salt puts his right hand on to the boundary, just plucking the ball from the ground. Kishan walks back for 80 as Abhinandan gets his maiden IPL wicket.