2 hours ago
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Defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) continued with their outstanding form this season with a five-wicket victory over the Gujarat Titans (GT) in what was the last group stage match at their M.Chinnaswamy in Match 34 of the 2026 Indian Premier League (IPL).
After winning the toss and putting GT into bat, the visitors made a bright start to their innings and put up a score of 205 from their quota of 20 overs. Sai Sudharsan was the star, registering his first century of this season’s IPL. The 2022 champions lost their way a little, but a late onslaught from Jason Holder took them to a respectable total.
In reply, RCB chased down the total with five wickets in hand and seven balls to spare. The win is mainly down to Devdutt Padikkal and Virat Kohli’s 115-run partnership for the second wicket, which took the game away from GT. The pair scored 55 and 81 respectively to put on a show at their home ground. Despite losing a few wickets in the middle order, the Royal Challengers crossed the line thanks to Krunal Pandya’s last flourish.
Key moments of the match
1. Sai Sudharsan smashes a quick-fire hundred
Prior to the game against RCB, Sai Sudharsan had just one score of above 50 and averaged just 22.50. The left-hander, however, returned to form with a century off just 57 balls, an innings comprising 11 fours and five sixes. This was the 24-year-old’s third hundred in his IPL career. Sudharsan, however, could not capitalise on his century and was dismissed on the very next delivery he faced off the bowling of Josh Hazlewood.
2. Virat Kohli delights the crowd after getting a lifeline
It is not very often that Virat Kohli presents an opportunity to take his wicket in the very first over of the match. GT, however, were provided with exactly that during Mohammed Siraj’s over when Kohli glanced a ball straight to Washington Sundar, who was stationed at mid-wicket. The all-rounder, however, was not steady and dropped a simple chance. The right-handed batter would take full advantage of this lifeline, going on to score 81 off 44 balls whilst also forging a 115-run partnership for the second wicket along with Devdutt Padikkal. He was later declared the Player of the Match for his fabulous innings.
3. Late Krunal Pandya-Tim David show takes RCB home
After an outstanding partnership between Padikkal and Kohli ended, RCB lost their way a little, losing four wickets in a span of just 32 runs. However, the pair of Krunal Pandya and Tim David made sure there were no hiccups anymore and chased down the total in the 19th over. David scored 10 runs while Pandya scored a 12-ball 23 to help his side get the two points.
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