Bengaluru: Virat Kohli's unbeaten 81 and Devdutt Padikkal's explosive 55 propelled Royal Challengers Bengaluru to a thrilling five-wicket victory over Gujarat Titans in IPL 2026's Match 34 at M Chinnaswamy Stadium on Friday.
Chasing 206, RCB benefited from an early reprieve when Washington Sundar dropped Kohli at short midwicket off Mohammed Siraj. The veteran capitalised, forging partnerships and reaching his 800th IPL four against Kagiso Rabada before pulling Rashid Khan for his 300th six. Padikkal complemented him aggressively, smashing Rabada for six at 153.6 kph and dismantling Siraj and Prasidh Krishna with boundaries and lofted shots. He blazed to a 30-ball fifty—racing to the mark in just 20 deliveries—including two sixes off Rashid.
Padikkal fell to Rashid's googly for 55 off 27, but Kohli pressed on with back-to-back sixes off Jason Holder before chopping onto his stumps for 81 off 44. Krunal Pandya then sealed the chase with an unbeaten 23 off 12, blasting 17 off Manav Suthar in the 18th over, including a massive six over deep midwicket. RCB reached 206 for five in 18.5 overs.
Earlier, Gujarat Titans posted 205 for three, anchored by Sai Sudharsan's superb 100 off 58—the fastest to 2,000 IPL runs in 47 innings. After a cautious powerplay yielding 57 without loss alongside Shubman Gill (32), Sudharsan unleashed uppercuts and slog sweeps, falling to Josh Hazlewood. Late hitting from Holder and Sundar pushed GT past 200, but RCB's firepower prevailed in a high-octane clash.
Brief scores: Gujarat Titans 205/3 in 20 overs (Sai Sudharsan 100, Shubman Gill 32; Bhuvneshwar Kumar 1-31, Suyash Sharma 1-36) lost to Royal Challengers Bengaluru 206/5 in 18.5 overs (Virat Kohli 81, Devdutt Padikkal 55; Rashid Khan 2-49, Jason Holder 1-28) by five wickets.
(Inputs from IANS)