RCB Kick Off 2026 Season with Dominant Six-Wicket Victory Over SRH at Chinnaswamy

BENGALURU, India — Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) kicked off their IPL 2026 season with a dominant six-wicket win over Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) on Saturday night, March 28. Playing at their home ground, the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, RCB successfully chased down a target of 202 with 26 balls to spare. The victory was led by a steady, unbeaten 69 from Virat Kohli and a fast-paced 61 from Devdutt Padikkal, who entered the game as an Impact Player. Their scoring spree followed a strong start by SRH’s Ishan Kishan, whose quick 80 runs had originally put the visitors in a promising position.
The home team’s success started with the ball, as debutant Jacob Duffy took 3 wickets for 22 runs to earn the Player of the Match award. His performance helped limit SRH to 201/9 on a pitch known for high scores. Once RCB began their chase, the momentum never shifted back, as Kohli and Padikkal easily dismantled the Hyderabad bowling attack. By winning this opening match so convincingly, RCB has secured two points and confirmed their spot as early favorites in the 2026 tournament.