Royal Challengers Bengaluru captain Rajat Patidar was all praise for Virat Kohli and Devdutt Padikkal after RCB’s exhilarating 5-wicket triumph over Gujarat Titans in IPL 2026’s 34th match. The M. Chinnaswamy faithful witnessed a classic chase of 206, completed in 18.5 overs with five wickets down.
GT’s innings was dominated by Sai Sudarshan’s masterful 100 off 58 deliveries—his third IPL ton. Supported by Gill’s 32 and Buttler’s quick 25, they reached 205/3. RCB’s pacers Bhuvneshwar and Hazlewood struck early lengths, influencing the rest of the attack.
RCB’s reply began shakily—Bethell fell for 14. But Kohli (81 off 44) and Padikkal (55 off 27) forged a crucial 115-run alliance in 59 balls. Padikkal’s explosive 6 sixes and 2 fours set the tone, Kohli’s composure sealed it. Pandya’s unbeaten 23 off 12 provided the finish.
Reflecting on the win, Patidar said, ‘Many lessons from this game. Our bowlers followed the leaders’ lengths perfectly. We knew 200 was chaseable. Last three overs’ yorkers were flawless. Kohli and Padikkal’s show was brilliant—pure joy to watch. Middle overs wickets are fixable.’
RCB’s fifth victory boosts them to second place. This performance highlights their chasing prowess and star power, positioning them strongly for playoffs amid a competitive season.
