Ishan Kishan's innings of 80 runs was ruined… On the strength of Virat-Devdutt and Rajat, RCB snatched the victory from Sunrisers Hyderabad.

New Delhi. The first match of IPL 2026 was high scoring. When Sunrisers Hyderabad scored 201 runs, they would not have even imagined that Royal Challengers Bangalore would achieve this target. But Virat Kohli, Rajat Patidar and Devdutt Padikkal had come thinking something different. Together, all three snatched victory from Sunrisers Hyderabad. RCB started the current season on a winning note by winning this match by 6 wickets. After the early fall of the first wicket, Virat and Padikkal took control of RCB. After this, captain Rajat Patidar played an important role in his team's victory by playing a brilliant innings.

While chasing the target of 202 runs set by Sunrisers Hyderabad, RCB scored 203 runs for 4 wickets in 15.4 overs. Virat Kohli returned unbeaten after scoring 69 runs on 38 balls. He hit 5 fours and five sixes. RCB did not have a good start. Explosive opener Phil Salt returned to the pavilion after scoring 8 runs. After this, Virat Kohli along with Devdutt Padikkal took over the innings by making a partnership of 101 runs for the second wicket. Padikkal was out after scoring 61 runs on 26 balls. After Padikkal's dismissal, Rajat Patidar and Virat took the score forward. Both added 53 runs for the third wicket. After this, RCB suffered two consecutive setbacks. After Patidar, Jitesh Sharma also returned to the pavilion. Patidar scored 31 runs in 12 balls while Jitesh could not even open the account. Kohli completed his half-century in 33 balls. For Hyderabad, David Paine took two wickets while Unadkat took one wicket.

Sunrisers Hyderabad scored 201 runs for 9 wickets
Earlier, with the help of acting captain Ishan Kishan's 80 runs in 38 balls, Sunrisers Hyderabad scored 201 runs for 9 wickets. Ishaan hit eight fours and five sixes in his innings. He made a partnership of 97 runs with Heinrich Klaasen (31) for the fourth wicket. RCB captain Rajat Patidar won the toss and decided to bowl first. Cricket has returned to M Chinnaswamy Stadium after about ten months. Last year, cricket was not being played at this ground due to the death of 11 fans during a stampede in celebration of RCB winning the title for the first time.

Duffy took three wickets for 22 runs in four overs.
For RCB, Jacob Duffy took three wickets for 22 runs in four overs. This New Zealand fast bowler made full use of his height and troubled the batsmen a lot. Abhishek Sharma (seven) could not play freely although he hit a six to Duffy at backward point. Abhishek, who was always uncomfortable in front of the short ball, was caught by Jitesh Sharma behind the wicket on Duffy's ball. Earlier, in the opening over itself, RCB had lost a DRS review on the appeal of Abhishek being caught behind the wicket on Duffy's own ball.

Ishaan played a courageous innings without coming under pressure
Travis Head and Nitish Kumar Reddy were also dismissed by Duffy. Sunrisers had lost three wickets for 29 runs in the fifth over itself and after the powerplay the score was 49 runs for three wickets. However, Ishaan played a courageous innings without coming under pressure and completed his half-century in 27 balls. He hit two sixes and one four in one over to Abhinandan Singh. After this, spinner Krunal Pandya was also hit for two sixes. However, it was Abhinandan who got Ishaan caught by Phil Salt at deep backward point. Sunrisers batsmen could score only 59 runs in the last five overs. Aniket Verma scored 43 runs in 19 balls, which was given life by Virat Kohli on the score of 26 on the ball of Bhuvneshwar Kumar.