Defending Champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru started their title defense in style as they breezed past Sunrisers Hyderabad in the opening match of the IPL 2026. The season started with Sunrisers Hyderabad batting first and Jacob Duffy picked up three wickets to dent back SRH. Ishan Kishan and Klassen stitched up a partnership as Sunrisers made their way back into the game and then it was Aniket Verma who provided the finishing touches as Sunrisers Hyderabad scored more than 200 in the first innings. In reply, Royal Challengers Bengaluru chased down the target in 16 overs and won the match by six wickets. Here is what the captains said at the post match presentation.
SRH Captain Reaction - Ishan Kishan
SRH captain 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 the next 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 Reaction After Match-Winning Knock
Virat Kohli smashed 69 runs of just 38 balls as the chase master continued to show his dominance as he helped Royal Challengers Bengaluru chase down the target. Here is what he said after his stunning knock
Virat Kohli: Thanks for such lovely words. It’s good to get back out there. You mentioned T20 cricket, the last game I played was the final last year, but I think the way I batted in the one-day series quite recently really helped me to stay in that same kind of momentum. I wasn’t playing shots that I don’t usually play. So I knew as long as I have the rhythm, and I’ve put enough work physically behind the scenes with my fitness, things should come together nicely. And yeah, tonight was another chance to start strong and build on this. The kind of scheduling that we’ve had over the last 15 years and the amount of cricket I’ve played, for me, there was always a risk of getting burnt out rather than being undercooked. So these breaks help me mentally. I stay fresh, I stay excited. Whenever I come back to play, it’s 120%. I’m not coming back underprepared. In fact, the extra rest helps me mentally freshen up. And as long as you’re physically fit and mentally excited, both those things come together nicely.
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Then you’re able to contribute to the team’s cause, and that’s what you want to do as a player. You don’t want to just hold on to a spot; you want to keep performing and keep putting in the work for the team. (Padikkal's knock) Outstanding knock. I mean, right from the word go, I had plans of going aggressive in the powerplay. But when I saw him play, I was like, just keep putting him back on strike and pick the odd boundary here and there. He completely took the game away from the opposition. I even told him, that shot he hit off the slower ball over mid-on for six, at that moment I said, just keep going. You’re hitting the ball amazingly well, just keep pushing and take the game away from the opposition. If we finish with 25-26 balls to spare, we’ll also benefit in terms of net run rate. His knock was tremendous. I’ve seen him at close quarters, the skill he has and now he’s applying it. This is also at the back of a great domestic red-ball season. His timing, head position, balance, absolutely world-class. I know what he can do with the bat when he’s confident, and tonight was a display of his sheer talent.
RCB Captain Rajat Patidar Post-Match Comments
RCB captain, Rajat Patidar: The way boys played and everybody chipped in was a positive sign. Duffy was playing his first match and the way he bowled was the turning point for us. Not a policy but we're assessing the wicket and the wicket was good to bat. The way Virat Kohli and Padikkal played was a good base. No words for him. Everytime he goes in and when the team is chasing, he's the number one batter and he was there at the end. It was a terrific catch by Phil Salt. I was surprised. But as we know he's a terrific fielder. Was trying my best to create an impact in this match. Was a situation in which we could've finished it off quickly.
Player of the Match - Jacob Duffy
Player of the match, Jacob Duffy: Awesome. Have heard a lot of good things about Bangalore and RCB. Hell of a way to start the campaign. Just keeping the big fella's seat warm (talking about Hazlewood). We have identified that the new ball does a little bit in Bangalore. We talk a lot about things and what works here. Slightly different wicket. Haven't seen a wicket with that kind of bounce in the last couple of months here. While the ball's hard and new here, it's the best time to bowl.
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Match Highlights & Key Performance
In a high scoring game, Jacob Duffy was the star for Royal Challengers Bengaluru as he finished with a spell of 3/22 in his four overs. This was his RCB debut and the Kiwi pacer delivered crucial blows upfront as he picked up wickets of Abhishek Sharma, Travis Head and Nitish Kumar Reddy. He was named the player of the match for his terrific effort and his spell ensured that Sunrisers Hyderabad could not post an above par total. Royal Challengers Bengaluru start their season with an excellent win and will be keen to continue their form in the upcoming matches
