IPL 2026: Defending champions RCB off to superb start, thrash SRH in season opener

Bengaluru: Royal Challengers Bengaluru handed Sunrisers Hyderabad a crushing 6-wicket defeat in the opening match of IPL 2026 on Saturday. Batting first, Sunrisers Hyderabad posted a total of 201 runs for the loss of 9 wickets in 20 overs, powered by a commanding knock of 80 runs from captain Ishan Kishan. In reply, the Royal Challengers Bengaluru team clinched the match with 26 balls to spare, aided by half-century innings from Devdutt Padikkal and Virat Kohli. Bengaluru reached 203 runs for the loss of 4 wickets in 15.4 overs.

How did RCB perform?

Chasing a target of 202 runs, Bengaluru got off to a strong start. Phil Salt could only manage 8 runs off 7 balls. Devdutt Padikkal played a blistering innings, scoring 61 runs off just 26 balls. Captain Rajat Patidar contributed 31 runs off 12 balls. Jitesh failed to open his account. RCB secured the victory by six wickets, reaching 203 runs for the loss of four wickets in 15.4 overs. Virat Kohli played an unbeaten innings of 69 runs off 38 balls, smashing five fours and five sixes. Tim David remained unbeaten on 16 runs, hitting one four and one six. For Hyderabad, David Payne claimed two wickets, while Harsh Dubey and Jaydev Unadkat dismissed one batsman each.

How did SRH perform?

Batting first against Royal Challengers Bengaluru on Saturday, Sunrisers Hyderabad scored 201 runs for the loss of 9 wickets in 20 overs. For Hyderabad, captain Ishan Kishan was the top scorer with 80 runs. Aniket played a blistering innings of 45 runs. For Bengaluru, Jacob Duffy was the pick of the bowlers, claiming three wickets.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru won the toss and elected to bowl first. Sunrisers Hyderabad, coming out to bat, did not get off to a good start and had lost three wickets by the time the score reached 29. Jacob Duffy dismissed Abhishek Sharma (7), Travis Head (11), and Nitish Kumar Reddy (1). Subsequently, Heinrich Klaasen came out to bat and steadied the innings alongside captain Ishan Kishan. The two batsmen shared a 97-run partnership for the fourth wicket. In the 14th over, Romario Shepherd brought an end to this partnership by dismissing Heinrich Klaasen. Klaasen played an innings of 31 runs off 22 balls, featuring two fours and one six. Salil Arora was dismissed after scoring 9 runs.

In the 16th over, Abhinandan Singh claimed Ishan Kishan as his victim. Ishan Kishan played a blistering innings of 80 runs off 38 balls, smashing eight fours and five sixes. Following his dismissal, Harsh Dubey (3) and Harshal Patel (0) were dismissed. Aniket Verma played a knock of 43 runs off 18 balls, hitting three fours and four sixes. Hyderabad posted a massive total of 201 runs in their allotted 20 overs. For RCB, Jacob Duffy claimed three wickets, while Romario Shepherd took two wickets. Abhinandan Singh, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, and Suyash Sharma each dismissed one batsman.

What were the playing XIs?

Sunrisers Hyderabad (Playing XI): Abhishek Sharma, Travis Head, Ishan Kishan (Wicketkeeper/Captain), Heinrich Klaasen, Aniket Verma, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Salil Arora, Harsh Dubey, Harshal Patel, Jaydev Unadkat, Ishan Malinga

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (Playing XI): Virat Kohli, Phil Salt, Rajat Patidar (Captain), Jitesh Sharma (Wicketkeeper), Tim David, Romario Shepherd, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Abhinandan Singh, Jacob Duffy, Suyash Sharma

Who won the first toss of IPL 2026?

Royal Challengers Bengaluru captain Rajat Patidar won the toss on Saturday and elected to bowl first in the opening match of the 19th season of the Indian Premier League against Sunrisers Hyderabad. The Hyderabad team will bat first at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium.