Royal Challengers Bengaluru chased down 206 with 7 balls to spare, consequently beating Gujarat Titans by 5 wickets in IPL 2026 Match 34 at Bengaluru on April 24, 2026. Most importantly, Virat Kohli‘s magnificent 81 off 44 balls (8 fours, 4 sixes) and Devdutt Padikkal‘s explosive 55 off 27 powered the successful chase.
Earlier, Sai Sudharsan‘s brilliant 100 off 58 balls (11 fours, 5 sixes) had set up GT’s imposing 205/3. However, the Kohli-Padikkal partnership of 115 runs for the second wicket ultimately made the target look achievable. As a result, Kohli earned both POTM and Cricinfo MVP (85.89 points).
Match Summary
| Details | Info |
|---|---|
| GT Score | 205/3 (20 overs) |
| RCB Score | 206/5 (18.5 overs) |
| Result | RCB won by 5 wickets (7 balls remaining) |
| Venue | M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru |
| Date | April 24, 2026 (Night Match) |
| Best Batter (GT) | Sai Sudharsan – 100 off 58 balls |
| Best Batter (RCB) | Virat Kohli – 81 off 44 balls |
| Best Bowler (RCB) | Bhuvneshwar Kumar – 1/31 in 4 overs |
| Best Bowler (GT) | Mohammed Siraj – 1/25 in 3 overs |
| Player of the Match | Virat Kohli (RCB) |
GT Innings: 205/3 in 20 Overs
Sai Sudharsan and Shubman Gill gave GT a commanding start. The opening pair consequently raced to 57/0 in the powerplay without losing a single wicket, because RCB’s bowlers couldn’t find any early breakthroughs.
Furthermore, they brought up the 50-run partnership in just 33 balls (Sudharsan 41, Gill 8). Sudharsan was particularly dominant, since he reached his fifty off only 33 balls (8 fours, 2 sixes) before the first strategic timeout at 78/0 in 8 overs.
The opening stand eventually reached 128 runs before Gill finally fell at 128/1 (12.4 overs), caught by Padikkal off Suyash Sharma. Although Gill contributed 32 off 24 (2 fours, 1 six), Sudharsan was clearly the senior partner throughout.
Sudharsan’s Magnificent Century
After Gill’s departure, Sudharsan continued his assault. He subsequently brought up his century off 57 balls (11 fours, 5 sixes), becoming one of the standout innings of IPL 2026.
However, Josh Hazlewood eventually dismissed him at 160/2 (15.3 overs) with a caught-and-bowled. Despite that, GT were already well set for a massive total because of Sudharsan’s platform.
Sundar and Holder Finish Strong
Jos Buttler (25 off 16) initially kept up the momentum before Bhuvneshwar Kumar dismissed him at 177/3 (17.4 overs). After that, Washington Sundar (19* off 12) and Jason Holder (23* off 10) consequently smashed 28 unbeaten runs in the last 16 balls.
As a result, GT crossed 200 in 19.4 overs (118 balls) and ultimately finished at 205/3. Holder was especially destructive at SR 230.00, hitting 2 sixes in his brief cameo.
GT Top Performers with the Bat
| Batter | Runs | Balls | 4s/6s | SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sai Sudharsan | 100 | 58 | 11 / 5 | 172.41 |
| Shubman Gill (c) | 32 | 24 | 2 / 1 | 133.33 |
| Jos Buttler | 25 | 16 | 2 / 1 | 156.25 |
RCB Bowling: Figures
| Bowler | Overs | Runs | Wickets | Economy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bhuvneshwar Kumar | 4 | 31 | 1 | 7.75 |
| Suyash Sharma | 4 | 36 | 1 | 9.00 |
| Rasikh Salam | 3 | 28 | 0 | 9.33 |
Fall of Wickets: 1-128 (Gill, 12.4), 2-160 (Sudharsan, 15.3), 3-177 (Buttler, 17.4)
RCB Chase: 206/5 in 18.5 Overs
Impact sub Jacob Bethell (14 off 10) replaced Suyash Sharma and opened the innings aggressively with 3 fours. However, Mohammed Siraj had him caught at 26/1 (2.6 overs) by Shahrukh Khan.
That brought Virat Kohli and Devdutt Padikkal together, and what followed was the partnership of the tournament. The pair subsequently added 115 runs for the second wicket, because both batters were in absolutely sublime touch.
Padikkal was initially the aggressor, since he reached his fifty off just 20 balls (2 fours, 6 sixes) at SR 203.70. Meanwhile, Kohli brought up his own fifty off 30 balls (6 fours, 1 six). Together, they consequently took RCB to 100 in 8.6 overs (54 balls).
However, Padikkal’s brilliant knock eventually ended at 141/2 (12.5 overs) when Rashid Khan bowled him for 55 off 27 (2 fours, 6 sixes). Despite that, the partnership had already done the damage.
Kohli Falls but Krunal Pandya Finishes the Job
Kohli continued to accelerate after Padikkal’s departure. He subsequently pushed his score to 81 off 44 balls (8 fours, 4 sixes) at SR 184.09. However, Jason Holder eventually bowled him at 154/3 (13.4 overs).
After that, RCB lost Jitesh Sharma (10 off 6) at 171/4 (14.6 overs) and Rajat Patidar (8 off 5) at 173/5 (15.3 overs) to Rashid Khan and Manav Suthar respectively. Consequently, RCB still needed 33 runs off 28 balls with 5 wickets down.
But Krunal Pandya (23* off 12) and Tim David (10* off 9) then closed out the chase without further drama. Pandya smashed 3 fours and a six, because he was determined to finish it early. As a result, RCB crossed 200 in 18.2 overs (110 balls) and ultimately won with 7 balls to spare.
RCB Top Performers with the Bat
| Batter | Runs | Balls | 4s/6s | SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Virat Kohli | 81 | 44 | 8 / 4 | 184.09 |
| Devdutt Padikkal | 55 | 27 | 2 / 6 | 203.70 |
| Krunal Pandya | 23* | 12 | 3 / 1 | 191.66 |
GT Bowling: Figures
| Bowler | Overs | Runs | Wickets | Economy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mohammed Siraj | 3 | 25 | 1 | 8.33 |
| Jason Holder | 3.5 | 35 | 1 | 9.13 |
| Manav Suthar | 2 | 19 | 1 | 9.50 |
Fall of Wickets: 1-26 (Bethell, 2.6), 2-141 (Padikkal, 12.5), 3-154 (Kohli, 13.4), 4-171 (Jitesh, 14.6), 5-173 (Patidar, 15.3)
Key Highlights
- Virat Kohli’s 81 off 44 was vintage: He reached 50 off 30 balls (6×4, 1×6) and then accelerated brilliantly. His 8 fours and 4 sixes at SR 184.09 consequently drove the chase, and he earned both POTM and Cricinfo MVP (85.89 points). Undoubtedly, it was King Kohli at his very best in Bengaluru.
- Padikkal’s 55 off 27 was pure fireworks: His fifty came off only 20 balls (2×4, 6×6) at SR 203.70. In particular, 6 sixes in 27 balls showed he was hitting everything out of the ground. Although Rashid Khan eventually bowled him, the damage was already done.
- Sudharsan’s 100 off 58 was a brilliant losing effort: His century came off 57 balls (11×4, 5×6) at SR 172.41. He also anchored a 128-run opening stand with Gill. However, GT’s total of 205/3 still wasn’t enough because of Kohli and Padikkal’s counter-attack.
- The Kohli-Padikkal stand of 115 was the game-changer: They took RCB from 26/1 to 141/2 in 60 balls. Both batters scored fifties off fewer than 31 balls, consequently making the 206-run target look routine. This partnership essentially won RCB the match.
- Krunal Pandya’s 23* off 12 sealed it under pressure: Although RCB lost Kohli, Jitesh, and Patidar in quick succession (154/3 to 173/5), Pandya’s unbeaten cameo with 3 fours and a six at SR 191.66 ultimately ensured there were no further scares.
- Impact subs: RCB brought in Jacob Bethell for Suyash Sharma to open the batting, and he contributed a quick 14 off 10. Similarly, GT replaced Rahul Tewatia with Prasidh Krishna for additional bowling. However, Krishna conceded 31 runs in his 2 wicketless overs.
Verdict: RCB Chase Down 206 at Chinnaswamy Behind Kohli and Padikkal
Kohli’s 81 and Padikkal’s 55 made this look like a batting paradise, and their 115-run partnership consequently took the game away from GT. Although there was a brief wobble from 141/2 to 173/5, Krunal Pandya’s finishing ultimately ensured RCB won comfortably.
For GT, although Sudharsan’s century was outstanding, 205/3 clearly wasn’t enough on a Chinnaswamy flat track. When your centurion’s effort gets chased down with 7 balls to spare, the bowling attack has some serious questions to answer.
