BENGALURU, INDIA — In a high-octane encounter at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) successfully chased down a formidable target of 206 to defeat the Gujarat Titans (GT) by five wickets with seven balls to spare. The match, which took place on Friday, April 24, 2026, was defined by a record-breaking century from GT’s Sai Sudharsan and a clinical batting masterclass from RCB legend Virat Kohli and young star Devdutt Padikkal.
Sudharsan’s Historic Hundred
After being put into bat by RCB captain Rajat Patidar, the Gujarat Titans got off to a blistering start. Opening pair Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan orchestrated a massive 128-run partnership, silencing the home crowd for much of the first innings.
While Gill provided a steady 32 off 24 balls, it was Sudharsan who stole the spotlight. The Tamil Nadu batter reached his century in just 57 deliveries, becoming the fastest player to reach 2,000 runs in IPL history during his stay. His knock of 100 off 58 balls was laced with 11 boundaries and five massive sixes, propelling the Titans to a position of absolute dominance at 155/1 by the 15th over.
However, RCB’s death bowling turned the tide. Suyash Sharma, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, and Josh Hazlewood delivered three pivotal overs between the 17th and 19th, conceding zero boundaries and stalling GT’s momentum. A late explosion from Jason Holder (23 off 10 balls) eventually dragged Gujarat past the 200-run mark, setting a target of 206.
The Kohli-Padikkal Show
RCB’s chase began with a major scare when Virat Kohli was dropped on the very first ball he faced by Washington Sundar. It was a mistake the Titans would come to regret. Kohli seized the lifeline, anchoring the innings with a majestic 81 off 44 balls, including eight fours and four sixes at a strike rate of 184.09.
Joining him was Devdutt Padikkal, who looked in sublime touch from the outset. The duo stitched together a match-defining 115-run partnership for the second wicket. Padikkal’s aggressive 55 off 27 balls (including six sixes) kept the required run rate under control even as the pressure of a 200+ chase loomed.
Late Drama and Final Finish
Despite the solid foundation, a flurry of wickets in the middle overs made the finish interesting. Rashid Khan struck twice, removing both Padikkal and Jitesh Sharma, while Jason Holder claimed the prized scalp of Kohli. RCB slipped from a comfortable 141/1 to 173/5, leaving the Chinnaswamy faithful biting their nails.
However, the experience of Krunal Pandya (23* off 12) and the composure of Tim David (10*) ensured there were no further hiccups. Pandya’s three boundaries in the penultimate over effectively sealed the game, as RCB crossed the line in 18.5 overs.
Post-Match Reactions
Speaking at the post-match presentation, GT skipper Shubman Gill admitted that the middle-over lull cost them the game.
With this win, Royal Challengers Bengaluru moves to second place on the IPL 2026 points table with 10 points from seven matches, while the Gujarat Titans remain in seventh place with six points. Virat Kohli was deservedly named Player of the Match for his match-winning 81.
Match Summary:
- Gujarat Titans: 205/3 in 20.0 Overs (Sai Sudharsan 100, Shubman Gill 32; Bhuvneshwar Kumar 1/31)
- Royal Challengers Bengaluru: 206/5 in 18.5 Overs (Virat Kohli 81, Devdutt Padikkal 55; Rashid Khan 2/49)
- Result: RCB won by 5 wickets.
