Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Sunrisers Hyderabad, IPL, 2026 Mar 28 Full score card

FOUR! That's it, Virat Kohli finishes the job! A six followed by a hat-trick of fours. RCB romp home on the opening night. This is banged in short by Harshal, outside off. Kohli waits for the ball to arrive. He hops and gets his hands high to get under the ball before playing the upper cut over the man at short third for a boundary.

FOUR! Hit with real authority! Patel goes fuller this time and sticks to the pace off option. Kohli jumps out of the crease and extends his hands before thumping it over extra cover for four more. RCB require 3 runs more.

FOUR! Gets it away! Harshal goes short now and directs it around the helmet of the batter. Kohli swivels to hook it away but gets it finer than he intended. Gets it away from the keeper to his left for a four.

SIX! That sounded so sweet! Cross-seam ball at 128 kph, right in the slot for Kohli. Virat plants his front foot towards the pitch of the ball and swings through the line to pump it over long on for a biggie.

Going across the right-hander, on a short of a good length. Virat walks across his stumps and cuts it to deep point for a single. RCB need 17 more runs.

Another slower bumper, on off. David clears the front leg and drags it to deep square leg for one.

SIX! Oh..Nitish Kumar Reddy could have done better there! Pitched up and outside off, Tim David reaches out for it and carves it wide of deep point again. Reddy runs to his right, tries to grab it over the ropes and throws it back inside but fails to do so and concedes the six.

WIDE! Slower bouncer, but way, way too high, Tim David leaves it alone. Called a wide.

FOUR! Extraordinary shot! Short again and outside off, slower too. Tim David somehow gets on top of it and slaps it away wide of deep point. Nitish Kumar Reddy runs to his right but loses his focus and goes over the fence before he can get his hands on the ball. A boundary.

FIFTY FOR VIRAT KOHLI! A huge roar from the crowd, and this has been a fine knock from him. Half-century number 64 for him in the IPL, and he just keeps getting better and better with each game. Back of a length and on off, Kohli pulls it to deep mid-wicket for a run.

Short of a length and outside off, rolls his fingers to take pace off. Tim David stabs it out towards mid off for just a single.

Strategic Break! Royal Challengers Bengaluru were motoring along in the chase, but a couple of quiet overs have followed. Despite that, the RCB train continues to move towards the destination and remains on course to begin their title defence with a win. Sunrisers Hyderabad will be hoping for another double wicket over to have a sniff in the contest. David Payne to resume the proceedings after the break.

Slower again, hard length and on off, Tim David drags it to deep mid-wicket for one more.

SRH have now lost both reviews, and both on wide calls.

WIDE! Goes for the slower bouncer, on middle, Tim David ducks under it. The on-field umpire gives it a wide, but Ishan Kishan takes the review. The replay clearly shows it is going over David's head.

Bangs it into the pitch again, on off, takes pace off, Virat Kohli punches it through covers for one.

Short of a length and around off, Virat Kohli arches back and steers it towards point.

Good length and on off, Tim David gets hurried and bunts it down the pitch. The bounce takes it over the head of the bowler. The batters cross.

Pitched up and on middle, Virat Kohli knocks it down to long on for a run.

Back of a length and on middle, gives no pace, Tim David pulls it to deep mid-wicket for a single.

Slower one, good length and on middle, Tim David clips it through mid-wicket for one. Just 2 runs and 2 wickets from the over.

On a hard length, on off. David gets on his toes and punches it to extra cover.

No hat-trick for Payne! Hard length and on middle and off, Tim David stabs it out to short cover.

Tim David walks out to face the hat-trick ball.

OUT! TAKEN! Two in two for David Payne and he is on a hat-trick now. He bangs this one into the pitch, on middle and leg. Jitesh Sharma looks to take it on and goes for the pull shot, but gets a bit cramped up and cannot fully go through it. He ends up mistiming it straight into the hands of Jaydev Unadkat at deep square leg, who makes no mistake.

End of a breezy knock from the RCB skipper. Jitesh Sharma makes his way out to the centre.

OUT! CAUGHT! David Payne strikes, but it's probably too little too late for SRH. He serves this fuller and outside off, keeping it out of the arc of the batter, also takes pace off. Rajat Patidar swings hard at it but loses his bottom hand and ends up slicing it high in the air. Harsh Dubey backpedals at mid off, keeps his eyes on the ball and takes a fine catch. Patidar departs for a fiery 31 off 12, with RCB needing 39 runs in 46 balls.

Short of a length and on off, Virat Kohli swats it to deep mid-wicket for a single.

Into the deck, off-cutter. Kohli looks to force it away. He mistimes it to extra cover and retains the strike with a single.

WIDE! Shorter and slower, but again, outside the tramline, Virat Kohli fails to reach it. Fourth wide of the over.

On a length and on off, Rajat Patidar tucks it through mid-wicket for one. The 50-run stand comes up between this pair.

SIX! Rajat Patidar looks in a hurry here! Pitched up and on middle and leg. Patidar steps across a bit and whacks it with full power over the deep square leg fence for half a dozen more.

WIDE! An off-cutter, full and well outside off, trying to keep it away from the batter. Rajat Patidar gets low and throws his bat at it but misses. It is called a wide but SRH have taken a review here. The replay shows that Patidar was in his normal stance, and the ball is well outside the guideline. The on-field call of wide remains.

SIX! Going, going, gone! Eshan Malinga goes pace on, but once again bowls this right in the slot, on middle. Rajat Patidar waits for it deep inside his crease, clears his front leg and powers it over the long on fence for a biggie. 50 needed in 51 balls now.

WIDE! Tries the slower bounce again, too high again, outside off this time. Rajat Patidar tries to upper cut it but fails to connect. Another wide given.

Hard length and around off, Rajat Patidar stabs it out to short cover.

WIDE! Slower bouncer, on middle, but too high, Rajat Patidar lets it go. Wided.

FOUR! Stand and deliver! Eshan Malinga misses the yorker and serves this full and on middle. Rajat Patidar stays in his crease and presents the full face of the bat. He plays a check drive and the ball races down the ground, between long on and long off for a boundary.

Eshan Malinga is back. He went for 13 runs in his first over.

Slows it up, full and on off, turns away a bit, Virat Kohli looks to push it away but misses. Ishan Kishan collects and breaks the stumps but Kohli never left the crease.

SIX! This is just incredible batting! Flighted, full and on middle. Virat Kohli uses his feet but stays leg side of the ball to extend his arms. Gets under the ball and smacks it over the bowler's head for a biggie.

Drops it short and around off, Virat Kohli punches it to short cover.

Flatter, full and on middle and leg, Rajat Patidar heaves it off the inner half of the bat to deep mid-wicket for a run.

SIX! The ball just keeps flying here in Bengaluru! Tossed up, full and around middle. Rajat Patidar gets down on one knee quickly and plays the slog sweep over the deep mid-wicket fence for a biggie.

Floated, short and on middle, Virat Kohli uses his feet and punches it to long off for a single.

Takes pace off and keeps it full, near the wide guideline. Kohli advances and takes it on the full as he drives it to deep cover for one. 15 runs off the over. Halfway through the chase, RCB are 126/2, needing 76 runs in 60 balls.

Wide! Harshal goes into the surface and it is near the tramline. It sails over Kohli's head as he lets it go.

Dipping slower ball, on middle. Rajat pushes it to long on and gets to the other end.

FOUR! Dispatched with disdain! Harshal rolls his fingers over the ball and bowls it on a back of a length. Errs in line and Rajat cashes in on the width. Slaps it hard and wide of backward point for a four.

Harshal digs it in short, over off and middle. Kohli drags the pull towards wide long on. The fielder in the deep does well to keep it down to a single.

SIX! Incredible shot! Slanting into the right-hander, on a length, on middle. Kohli plants his front foot forward and brings his bottom hand into play. Fast hands from Kohli as he whips through the ball and picks the bones out of it. Hits it over the deep square leg fence for a six.

Full and attacking the stumps, skidding through. Patidar plays a punchy drive down to long on for a run.

Flat and short, coming in with the arm, on middle. Virat can only tap it back to Dubey.

Sliding in at the toes, very full. Patidar knocks it to long on for a single.

End of a wonderful knock from Devdutt Padikkal. Skipper Rajat Patidar comes out to the middle now.

OUT! CAUGHT! Devdutt Padikkal tries to go big again, but holes out this time. Harsh Dubey breaks the massive 101-run stand and provides the much-needed breakthrough for his team. He tosses it up, full and on off, Devdutt Padikkal backs away and tries to launch it down the ground but gets it from the bottom half of the bat. The ball flies high in the air towards long off, where Heinrich Klaasen runs forward and makes no mistake this time. The Impact Sub for RCB has put them well ahead in the chase, as DDP walks back to a massive applause from the crowd, scoring 61 off just 26 balls.

SIX! Nothing lucky about this one! Flighted, full and on middle and leg. Devdutt Padikkal goes down on one knee and executes the slog sweep to perfection over the deep square leg fence for a biggie. That also brings up the 100-RUN STAND between these two batters.

EDGED AND FOUR! Harsh Dubey bowls this flatter and shorter, around off. Devdutt Padikkal moves back to cut it away but gets an outside edge that races past short third for a boundary.

Floated, full and on off, Virat Kohli uses his feet and drives it to long off for a single. 100 UP FOR RCB!

Harsh Dubey replaces Eshan Malinga.

On a short of a length, on off. DDP punches it to cover.

FOUR BYES! Oh, dear! Ishan Kishan is having a tough night with the gloves. Patel bashes the surface and bowls the off-cutter, outside off. Devdutt Padikkal flashes but does not connect. The ball goes towards Ishan on the bounce but he does not get low enough and the ball goes through his legs for a boundary.

FOUR! Devdutt Padikkal brings up his FIFTY in style! It has been a knock of high class from the talented left-hander. An injury cut short his season last year, but he has started this season in an ideal fashion. Full ball from Patel from around the wicket. Devdutt knows that mid off is inside the circle, and he just lofts it effortlessly over that man for a boundary.

DROPPED! Heinrich Klaasen puts it down. A hand of apology straight away from Klaasen. Low full toss, on middle. Kohli does not go through the shot completely and checks his shot as he whips it towards long on. Heinrich stays back on the fence for far too long and does not realise that he needs to come in off the ropes. He eventually realises and puts in a dive, but does not manage to cling on. The batters cross over for a single.

Half a shout for caught behind! Turned down by the umpire and Ishan Kishan opts against the review. There was a noise but it seemed to come from the bat hitting the turf. Wide yorker, Kohli looks to jam it out but is beaten on the outside edge.

Going across, on a back of a length. DDP pulls it in front of square on the leg side for a run.

After being hit for a six on the previous ball, Eshan digs it in short and takes pace off. Kohli gets his bat high and ends up bunting it down the strip. It looked too high and might have been called a wide had Kohli left it.

SIX! Hold the pose, Virat! Cross-seam delivery, off-cutter, on a length, on middle. The ball does not grip the surface and just slides onto the bat. Kohli presents the full face of the blade and with a high elbow, he launches it towards the sight screen for a six.

Full and at pace, attacking the stumps. Kohli wrists it to the left of deep square leg. There is a fumble in the deep and Virat pounces on the opportunity to take the second run.

Malinga delivers the slower bumper, outside off. Kohli rises with the bounce and gets his hands high to play the upper cut but misses.

Malinga sprays it near the tramline, on the shorter side. Padikkal reaches out and bunts it to point and sneaks in a quick single.

FOUR! Carted away! Malinga hits the deck hard, across off. Devdutt Padikkal arches back and stays leg side to flay it behind point for a boundary. Virat Kohli likes it at the other end and has a smile on his face.

Strategic Break! Sunrisers Hyderabad needed this badly, as at the moment, RCB are running away with it. Devdutt Padikkal has been excellent and is batting at a strike rate of well over 200 here, while Virat Kohli is playing second fiddle. They have set the perfect platform for the chase, and SRH need wickets to get back in this game. Here is Eshan Malinga to bowl after the break. Strange that it took 6 overs to bring him into the attack.

Good comeback from Dubey after conceding a four on the first ball. Keeps it nice and full, on middle. DDP uses his feet and pushes it to mid off for a quick single. At the end of 6 overs, RCB are 76/1.

Tossed up, on middle, Kohli advances down the track and checks his shot as he chips it towards deep mid-wicket for one.

Low full toss, on middle, this is whipped to deep mid-wicket for another single.

Angled into the right-hander and the length stays full, Kohli charges down the track and has a hack across the line. Gets it off the inner half through mid-wicket for a run.

Looped up, outside off. Devdutt Padikkal steps out and ends up yorking himself. Squeezes out an outside edge to short third for one.

FOUR! Dubey is greeted with a boundary! Floated up by Harsh, full and across off. With fine leg and square leg up inside the circle, Padikkal gets across his stumps and gets low to sweep it behind square leg for a boundary.

Time for spin as the left-arm finger spinner, Harsh Dubey comes into the attack.

Good length and on middle, skids through, Devdutt Padikkal gets hurried onto his pull and misses. The ball hits his body and rolls behind and the batters sneak in a leg bye.

FOUR BYES! Very unlucky for Jaydev Unadkat! He delivers a deceptive slower bumper, outside off. Devdutt Padikkal tries to cut it away but fails to connect. The ball not only deceives him, but also Ishan Kishan, the keeper as well, who is beaten by the spin to his right.

Bangs this into the pitch, on middle, takes pace off, Virat Kohli uses his feet, gets his bat above his head and swats it to long on for a single.

FOUR! You can put any number of fielders, Virat Kohli will still find the gap. Back of a length and just around off, Kohli backs away early to access the off side and thumps it between cover and extra cover for a boundary.

SIX! Virat Kohli joins the six-hitting party! Fuller delivery, on middle, no real movement. Kohli crouches down on one knee and nails the slog sweep, flat and over deep mid-wicket for half a dozen more.

Hard length and on middle, Virat Kohli miscues his pull off the inner half of the bat towards mid-wicket.

Change of ends for Jaydev Unadkat (1-0-12-1).

SIX! Pleasing to the eye! David Payne pitches up the off-cutter, on middle and off. Devdutt Padikkal comes down the track, brings his wrists into play to whip it. He times it so well that it goes all the way over the long on fence for another biggie. 18 runs from Payne's first over. The 50 is up for RCB.

On a length and on off, Virat Kohli pats it towards extra cover for a run.

Change of pace now, back of a length and on leg, Devdutt Padikkal heaves it to deep square leg for a single.

FOUR! Put away! Short of a length this time, just around off. Devdutt Padikkal moves across early to target the vacant leg side region. He pulls it away to the deep mid-wicket fence to collect a boundary.

SIX! Just over! David Payne goes fuller and just outside off, Devdutt Padikkal gives the charge, goes down and throws his hands at it. Gets it from the outer half of the bat as the ball flies towards deep point. The fielder thinks he is in the game but the ball just goes over his head for a biggie.

Good-length delivery, on middle, holds its line, Devdutt Padikkal blocks it down the pitch.

Hits the length hard and around off, Devdutt Padikkal dabs it down wide of short third. Harshal Patel moves to his left and dives to save a certain boundary. Just one.

FOUR! Up and over! Slightly overpitched from Reddy, just outside off. Devdutt Padikkal extends his arms and plays it on the up to loft it over mid off for another boundary.

Goes back to his fuller length, on middle, angling in, Virat Kohli steps across to clip it away but misses. The ball deflects off his pads towards square leg. The batters cross for a leg bye.

On a length and around off, Devdutt Padikkal takes a good stride out and pushes it through cover-point for a run.

FOUR! Easy pickings! Nitish Kumar Reddy bowls this full again, on middle, shaping it into the pads. Devdutt Padikkal tickles it away down to the fine leg fence for an easy boundary.

Tries the yorker, but serves it too full, on the pads. Virat Kohli wristily flicks it to deep square leg for a single.

Good length and on off, Virat Kohli taps it in front of short cover and gets across for a quick one.

FOUR! Spanked! On a length, outside off. Just wide enough for Kohli to cash in. He extends his hands and plays the lofted drive to the left of mid off for a boundary.

From around the wicket for the right-hander, this is on a hard length, over off. Kohli gets his hands high and stabs it down on the leg side.

Fullish and on middle, Devdutt Padikkal knocks it towards mid on for a single.

SIX! Gets off the mark in style! Jaydev Unadkat serves this full but angling down the leg side, begging to be put away. Devdutt Padikkal picks it off his pads and whips it over the deep backward square leg fence for a biggie.

In walks RCB's Impact Sub. Here is Devdutt Padikkal.

OUT! TAKEN! Almost a bad collision, but Sunrisers Hyderabad get rid of the dangerous Phil Salt. Jaydev Unadkat strikes on his very first ball, and the crowd goes a bit silent here. He bowls this on a good length and around off, angling it away. Phil Salt tries to go over cover, but his bat turns in his hands and the ball just lobs up in the air. Heinrich Klaasen from mid off runs to his left, while Aniket Verma from cover moves to his right. Verma does not hear Klaasen's call and bumps into him, but Heinrich manages to hold on to the catch. Royal Challengers Bengaluru are 9/1, chasing 202 runs.

Jaydev Unadkat will operate from the other end. The left-arm seamer will begin from over the wicket. An interesting matchup against two right-handers.

Fullish but angling down the leg side, Phil Salt fails to glance it away as the ball goes off his pads towards fine leg. A leg bye taken. 9 runs off the first over!

FOUR! Excellent shot! Nitish Kumar Reddy hits the length hard but outside off again. Phil Salt loves the width on offer, keeps a steady base and punches it sweetly through covers for another boundary.

Pitched up and on middle, holds its line, Phil Salt bunts it out towards mid on.

FOUR! RCB are underway in the chase! Just short of a length and outside off. Phil Salt gets the chance to free his arms and crunches it through point for a boundary.

A bit of a mix-up but no harm done! Touch fuller and on off, Phil Salt drives it wide of short cover, who dives to his right to make a half stop. Salt sets off for the run but is sent back. The extra cover fielder picks the ball up and scores a direct hit at the batter's end but Salt is well in.

Right on the money! Nitish Kumar Reddy starts with a back-of-a-length delivery, on off. Phil Salt gets behind the line of it and blocks it out.

The 200-run mark has been breached! Bhuvneshwar Kumar bowls this full and on off, Jaydev Unadkat drills it towards sweeper cover and turns around for the second run. The throw from the deep is a wild one and the batters easily complete the double. Sunrisers Hyderabad finish on 201/9.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar gets the yorker right, on middle, Jaydev Unadkat can only dig it out back to the bowler.

Full again and on off, Jaydev Unadkat drives it firmly and wide of long off. The fielder is quick to run to his right and makes a sliding stop. Two more added to the total.

Leg bye! Very full, angled into the pads. Payne is beaten on the flick. A leg bye is taken as the ball dribbles towards cover.

Two more! Leg-cutter, on a short of a length. Payne waits on it and lofts it over cover. Krunal Pandya gets to the ball and fires in a throw at the bowling end but Jaydev Unadkat is in by then.

Fuller and around off, David Payne slices it off the toe-end of the bat wide of deep point for a brace.

Time for the final over. Jaydev Unadkat is the last man for SRH, but it will be David Payne on strike at the start of the over. Bhuvneshwar Kumar to bowl. 3-0-23-1 so far for Bhuvi. Can Hyderabad reach 200?

OUT! CAUGHT! A soft dismissal and Aniket Verma is gutted with himself. This is pitched up and outside off, slower again. Verma looks to loft it over cover, but does not go through the shot fully and ends up hitting it much straighter and into the hands of Virat Kohli at long off, who takes an easy catch.

Fuller delivery, pace on and outside off. Aniket Verma steps across, changes his stance and goes for the reverse lap but misses. The umpire gives it a wide, but Rajat Patidar has taken the review to challenge the decision. The replay shows that the ball is well within the revised wide guideline, as the batter has also moved across and it is a fair ball. The on-field call is overturned.

SIX! Sensational batting from Aniket Verma! Romario Shepherd misses his yorker and serves this right in the slot again, on middle. Aniket, in the form he is in, is never going to miss out on that and dispatches it cleanly over the bowler's head for half a dozen more.

FOUR! A hit-me ball and gladly accepted! Short of a length and well outside off, again, no pace on the ball. Aniket Verma knows that third man is up in the circle and slashes hard at it. Gets a thick outside edge that flies over that fielder for a boundary.

SIX! This is exactly why he needs to play most of the ball from here. Romario Shepherd delivers an off-cutter, on a length and in the slot. Aniket Verma gets his front leg out and launches it high and handsomely over the long on fence for a 100-METER biggie.

In the blockhole, on middle, David Payne jams it out towards long on for a single. Good result for SRH as Aniket gets back on strike.

Pitched up and on off, David Payne drives it to long off and interestingly, they take the single. Maybe it would have been better if Verma had kept the strike.

Right, Sunrisers Hyderabad bring in David Payne as their Impact Sub. Travis Head has been subbed out. Payne will have a role to play with the ball later, but for now, he has to lend support to Aniket Verma.

Travis Head is substituted by David Payne

OUT! TAKEN! Another one bites the dust. Bhuvneshwar Kumar lands this short of a length and just outside off. Harshal Patel stays back in his crease and tries to flat-bat it down the ground, but fails to get any power on the shot. It flies straight into the hands of Devdutt Padikkal at long off, who makes no mistake and grabs his third catch of the match. Sunrisers Hyderabad are 174/8 now.

Good length and on off, Harshal Patel stabs it out to extra cover.

DROPPED! Would you believe it? Virat Kohli has put down a catch. This is fuller and on middle, takes pace off. Aniket Verma looks to go big down the ground but takes his eyes off and only mistimes it high in the air. Virat Kohli runs forward a long way from long on, gets to the ball, but fails to hold on to it. He will be disappointed with that effort. Aniket only takes a single, as he thought he was a goner.

FOUR! Cheeky and effective! Bhuvneshwar Kumar bangs in a slower bouncer, on middle, keeps rising. Aniket Verma does well to hop up and reach for that and upper cuts it over the keeper's head for a boundary.

Back of a length and just outside off, Aniket Verma slaps it wide of long off for a couple of runs.

Number 7 goes down for SRH. That brings Harshal Patel to the crease. Also, Bhuvneshwar Kumar comes back into the attack.

OUT! CAUGHT! End of a short stay for Harsh Dubey. Shepherd spots Dubey making the shuffle and exposes his leg stump. He goes full and in line with the leg pole. Harsh picks it up off the pads but gets the height and not the distance. It goes only as far as deep backward square leg, where Devdutt Padikkal settles under the skier and makes no mistake. Another ball in this innings that isn't quite a great delivery, but it still fetches the bowler a wicket.

Across off, slower ball bowled into the wicket, Dubey drags the pull over mid-wicket. He does not quite get hold of it and it is cut off by Phil Salt, who runs around from deep square leg. Two runs taken.

WIDE! Tries the off-cutter, bowls this on a good length but way outside off, Harsh Dubey leaves it alone. Wided.

Back of a length and on off, takes pace off, Aniket Verma heaves it away to deep square leg for one.

Touch fuller and on off, Harsh Dubey pushes it through cover-point for another run.

Romario Shepherd nails the yorker this time, on middle, Aniket Verma jams it out towards long on for a single.

SIX! That is a shot and a half! Romario Shepherd lands this short of a length but angles it down the leg side. Aniket Verma moves across to get inside the line of it and hooks it with all his power. The ball sails over the fine leg fence, into the second tier for a monster hit.

The loudest cheer from the Chinnaswamy crowd in this game. RCB have managed to get rid of the dangerous Ishan Kishan. Harsh Dubey replaces him in the middle.

OUT! CAUGHT! It had to take something special to dislodge Ishan Kishan and Phil Salt has pulled off a spectacular catch. It is just the opening night, and we already have a contender for the catch of the season. Abhinandan Singh will consider himself lucky here. This is a low full toss, outside off. Kishan tries to repeat the earlier six and opens the bat face to slice it behind point. Ends up hitting it square this time. Phil Salt sprints to his right from deep point, and while being at full tilt, he stretches his right hand out and holds onto it while sliding. He ensures that the ball stays away from the ground by sliding with the back of his hand on the ground. End of a top knock from the SRH skipper.

SIX! Easy as you like! Abhinandan Singh looks to push it across the left-hander, full in length. Kishan crouches and extends his hands. He makes use of the angle by opening the bat face and clears the deep third fence for six more.

Hard length delivery, on middle. Aniket is tucked up for room and mistimes the pull to the left of deep mid-wicket. Phil Salt gets around and mops it up. Just a single.

Good comeback from Singh! Nails the yorker, right at the base of the off stump. Aniket hurriedly drops his bat down on the ball and squeezes it out to backward point. Ishan is keen on a single and is halfway down the track before being sent back. Romario Shepherd gets rid of the ball quickly but the ball goes well over the stumps. Kishan was in before the throw came in.

SIX! Clean as a whistle! At 136.4 kph, Singh bangs it in short but this sits up to be hit. It comes just above the waist for Verma, who stands tall and nails the pull over mid-wicket for half a dozen.

Hits the good length, on the off stump. Verma pats it off the front foot to cover.

Strategic Break! The final five overs are coming up now and could well be the match-defining phase in this game. Royal Challengers Bengaluru have pulled things back with a couple of quick wickets, but as long as Ishan Kishan is out there, they cannot breathe easy. Sunrisers Hyderabad may have lost half their team, but they are still in a good position to push for a total near 200. However, for that to happen, skipper Kishan needs to stay till the end and the others will also have to chip in. Here is Abhinandan Singh to bowl after the break.

Flatter and quicker, on a nagging length. Aniket punches it to long on for a single.

FOUR! Gets it through! Sharma continues to be a bit too short, around off. Aniket picks the wrong 'un and waits for the ball to arrive. He opens the bat face and steers it between short third and backward point for a boundary.

Another drag down by Suyash, outside off. Aniket flashes and misses.

Sunrisers Hyderabad find half their side back in the hut now. Aniket Verma comes out to the middle.

OUT! CAUGHT! One brings two for RCB. Not the best of balls by Suyash Sharma but he will take it. Suyash tries the googly but drops it too short. Turning towards the off and middle stump. Arora hangs back and goes for the pull. He makes a half-hearted attempt. Neither does he get the elevation, nor is it wide enough to beat the fielder in the deep. Hits it flat and straight to deep mid-wicket, where Devdutt Padikkal runs in off the ropes and takes a safe catch by diving forward.

Googly, on a nagging length, Kishan steers it through point and crosses over.

Flighted delivery, full and outside off. Salil Arora goes hard on the drive. The ball catches the inner half and goes behind square leg for one.

On a hard length, on off, Arora dabs it behind point for a run.

SIX! Top edge but it goes all the way! Romario Shepherd digs it in short, around off. Salil swings at it for the pull but fails to get on top of the bounce. A top edge is found and it clears the man at the deep fine leg fence for a six.

Across off, on a hard length, Ishan cuts it to deep point for one.

On middle, on a shortish length, Salil pulls it uppishly towards deep square leg. The fielder charges in from the deep but the ball drops short. They cross.

At the sticks, on a good length. Arora stabs it down on the leg side.

A timely breakthrough for RCB. Salil Arora walks out to bat on IPL debut.

OUT! CAUGHT! Phil Salt has somehow managed to hold on near the ropes. Romario Shepherd comes back into the attack and breaks the threatening 97-run stand. He lands this on a good length, on middle and leg. Heinrich Klaasen stays deep in his crease and looks to heave it towards deep mid-wicket. He does not get it from the middle of the bat, and the ball flies high in the air. Phil Salt, near the ropes, settles under the high ball and takes the catch. However, he loses his balance and rolls over, with his foot very close to the ropes. The third umpire is called in to check whether any part of his body touches the ropes or not. From one of the angles, it looks like the cushions just moved, but the third umpire, after watching a few different angles, deems that it is a fair catch. Klaasen looks a bit bemused but has to accept the decision in the end.

Taken at deep mid-wicket. Is it a clean effort from Phil Salt? Was any part of his body touching the boundary cushions? Heinrich Klaasen has been asked to wait. The third umpire requests a top angle from the director, but it’s not conclusive enough to make a decision. He eventually goes to the front-on angle and finds no movement of the boundary cushions. He rules it a clean catch. Klaasen is not pleased one bit as he makes his way back to the shed.

SIX MORE! The SRH captain is leading from the front here. Krunal Pandya tosses it up, full and on off. Ishan Kishan gets this one right in his slog. He clears his front leg and tonks it over the bowler's head for half a dozen more. 21 runs off the over!

SIX! Easy pickings for Ishan Kishan! Krunal Pandya fires this one full but angles it down the leg side. Ishan Kishan goes down on one knee, picks it up and slog sweeps it comfortably over the deep backward square leg fence for another biggie.

Another short delivery, on off, Heinrich Klaasen slaps it to sweeper cover for one.

Short again, on middle, Ishan Kishan tries to pull it away but loses his shape. Gets it off the inner half of the bat to deep square leg for a run.

Short and around off, Heinrich Klaasen punches it through covers for a single.

SIX! BANG! You cannot give freebies like that. A juicy full toss, on middle, begging to be put away. Heinrich Klaasen does not miss out and smokes it over the deep mid-wicket fence for a biggie.

FOUR! Poor delivery and it gets the treatment! A real half-tracker, down leg. Kishan does not miss out on putting it away. He swivels and pulls it behind square leg for the third boundary of the over. Suyash Sharma goes for 13 runs in his 2nd over.

Pushed through quicker, shortish and on off, Ishan Kishan steers it to point.

Almost a run out! Suyash Sharma floats it up, full and on off, Ishan Kishan pushes it towards extra cover. Heinrich Klaasen sets off for the run but is sent back. The fielder has a shy at the bowler's end while Klaasen puts in a dive. The ball hits Klaasen's bat and deflects away. No appeal from RCB as Klaasen did not change direction while trying to reach his ground.

FOUR MORE! That is a beautiful shot! Suyash Sharma flights it up, full and around off, Ishan Kishan goes inside out, uses his reach and lofts it over extra cover for another boundary. The 100 is up for SRH!

FOUR! FIFTY FOR ISHAN KISHAN! He has continued his international form into the IPL and has made batting look easy here. Just 27 balls to get to his half-century. Tossed up, full and on middle, Kishan gets right under it and pumps it past the bowler, between long on and long off for a boundary.

Flatter delivery, full and on middle and leg, Heinrich Klaasen tucks it away wide of short fine. The fielder dives to his left a bit too early but manages to make the stop in the end. A single taken.

Uppish but safe! Floated, full and on off, Heinrich Klaasen drills it really hard and aerially wide of the bowler. Krunal Pandya stretches his left arm out, but the ball just evades him and goes towards long off for one more run.

Drags his length back and just outside off, Ishan Kishan cuts it away to deep point for one.

Flighted, full and on off, Heinrich Klaasen eases it towards long off for another run.

Keeps the length short once more, bowls it with a round-arm action whilst going low. This is outside off, Ishan Kishan slaps it away to wide long off for a run.

Shorter in length again, on off, Heinrich Klaasen punches it down to long off for a single.

Quicker and short, on off, Heinrich Klaasen moves back to cut but tries to go at it a bit too hard. He ends up chopping it down to short cover.

It will be spin from both ends as Krunal Pandya has been called into the attack.

Slower through the air, full and on middle, Ishan Kishan knocks it to the left of the bowler.

Flatter delivery, shortish and on middle, Ishan Kishan gets low and heaves it away wide of deep square leg. The sub fielder, Kanishk Chouhan, is quick to move to his right and dives to save a couple of runs for his team.

Short again and on off, Heinrich Klaasen stays back and stabs it towards short cover, where the fielder only makes a half-stop. They cross.

Drops it a bit short and around off, Ishan Kishan punches it through cover-point for a single.

FOUR! Gets it away! Flighted delivery, full and around off, keeping it out of the arc of the batter. Ishan Kishan extends his arms and drills it through extra cover. Tim David from long off runs to his right and dives, but cannot stop the boundary.

Starts with a wrong'un, full and on middle, turns away. Ishan Kishan winds up for the slog but adjusts to the length and steers it towards point.

Strategic Break! Despite losing 3 wickets inside the Powerplay, Sunrisers Hyderabad have actually recovered well through Heinrich Klaasen and Ishan Kishan. Yes, maybe they have had some luck, but we have also seen the damage that this duo can cause. Jacob Duffy was simply outstanding on his debut, picking all three wickets, but Royal Challengers Bengaluru know that they need to break this partnership as quickly as possible. First look at spin as the leggie Suyash Sharma comes on.

Full and wide on off. Kishan reaches out and flays at it. He loses his shape in the process and gets an inside edge wide of short fine leg for a run.

Around leg, on a good length, Kishan nudges it with soft hands in the vacant mid-wicket region and comes charging back for the second before the fielder in the deep gets to the ball.

FOUR! In the gap! Abhinandan Singh digs it in short, across off. Ishan stands tall and unleashes the pull. He plays it aerially but in the gap between deep mid-wicket and long on for a four.

Nearly dragged it back onto the sticks! On a hard length, on off. Kishan goes hard at the pull but drags an inside edge onto the pads.

Low full toss, on middle. Heinrich Klaasen clips it to deep mid-wicket for one.

Into the surface, over off and middle. Kishan pulls it in front of square on the leg side and takes a single.

Change of ends for Abhinandan Singh. He went for 16 runs in his first over.

Shepherd drags the length back, on off. Klaasen stays back and whips it all along the ground to deep mid-wicket, where Tim David sprints and dives to his left to prevent the boundary. Two runs taken. A productive over for SRH. 16 runs off it.

FOUR! Rinse and repeat! Romario Shepherd serves it a bit too full again, on the off pole. Klaasen just lets his hands flow into the shot. Just checks his drive and the mid off fielder stands no chance as he is beaten to his right.

FOUR! A shot of high class! Wobble seam delivery, full and in line with the off stump. Heinrich Klaasen does not move his feet much and just extends his hands into the drive. He plays a punchy drive to the right of mid off for a boundary.

Slightly fuller, outside off. This is cut away to deep point for one.

FOUR! Fine shot! At 136.3 kph, on a back of a length, going across. Ishan gets his hands high and rides the bounce. He plays it late to beat backward point to his right. It races away for a boundary.

Romario Shepherd begins with a full ball, on middle. Heinrich Klaasen pushes it with a straight bat to long on for a run.

What a spell from Jacob Duffy! He finished with figures of 4-0-22-3 and is also done for the night as he has been substituted. Devdutt Padikkal has been subbed in. It is time for Romario Shepherd to come into the attack.

Jacob Duffy is substituted by Devdutt Padikkal

On a shortish length, on middle. Heinrich Klaasen pulls it flat and on the bounce to deep square leg. End of a superb maiden IPL outing for Duffy.

Nearly chipped it back! That hard length again from Duffy, on a hard length, on off. Heinrich Klaasen stands tall to work it away with a closed bat face. Gets a leading edge and it pops back towards the bowler but lands well in front of him.

Moving back in, on a nagging length, on middle. Kishan waits back to deal with it. Ekes out an inside edge onto the pads and it rolls down to deep third for one.

On a good length, outside off. Klaasen punches it to deep cover and crosses over.

A bit more effort behind this ball from Duffy. On a hard length, outside off. Kishan rises with the bounce and guides it to deep third for one.

The 50 is up for SRH! Duffy goes into the surface, over middle. Heinrich Klaasen pulls it through square leg and picks up a single.

End of the Powerplay. It has certainly belonged to the home team and more often than not, 3 wickets inside the Powerplay are a telling factor in the game. Let's see if SRH can now bounce back. Also, Jacob Duffy will bowl out here.

End of an eventful Powerplay! Around leg, on a good length, Ishan turns it off the pads to mid-wicket. SRH end the Powerplay at 49/3.

Low full toss, on off, Kishan pats it to point.

SIX! Ishan Kishan flashes and flashes hard! Across off, on a hard length. Kishan's eyes light up on seeing the width offered. He flays at it and gets a thickish outside edge. The ball flies over the man at short third and goes over the ropes for a six.

FOUR! Not from the middle but it gets the job done for the SRH skipper. Better line from the debutant on the short ball, on middle. Ishan takes it on and manages to clear mid-wicket. Jacob Duffy gives it a long chase and dives but cannot prevent the boundary.

SIX! BANG! That has gone back many a mile. Another short ball but the height is not as high as the previous ball and the line is slightly too straight. Kishan swivels and gets under the ball to park the pull behind square leg for a biggie.

Almost a wicket on the first ball for the debutant! Singh charges in from over the wicket and like Duffy has done so far, he bashes the surface at 139 kph. He gets it high enough to trouble the batter as Ishan attempts the pull. The ball spoons off the upper half of the blade but lands just short of the rushing mid-wicket fielder.

Here's the first bowling change of the match and the ball is now tossed to another debutant, Abhinandan Singh.

Angled into the right-hander, on a short of a length. Klaasen hops and nudges it from the crease to mid-wicket. A very tidy over from Duffy, 4 runs and a wicket from it. 17 for 3 in his 3 overs so far.

Shaping back in, on a hard length, on off. Ishan glides it down to deep third and crosses over.

Klaasen is off the mark! Duffy keeps it nice and full, on off. Heinrich just extends his hands and eases himself into the drive. He plays it between cover and mid off. Romario Shepherd goes after it from mid off and puts in a dive just before the boundary cushions to save a run for his side.

Duffy pitches it up and gets the ball to move away in the air, Heinrich Klaasen watchfully lets it go.

This is turning out to be some debut for Jacob Duffy and it is almost like Josh Hazlewood never even went away. Heinrich Klaasen, SRH's top scorer from last season, walks in at number 5 with his side in some early trouble.

OUT! TAKEN! The start gets even better for RCB. Third wicket in the Powerplay for Jacob Duffy. He continues to reap rewards by hitting the deck hard. This is banged into the strip, around off. Nitish Kumar Reddy tries to take it on but is in no position to do so. He fails to get on top of the bounce and it comes off the splice of the bat. It is skied beside the strip on the leg side, where Abhinandan Singh takes a couple of steps forward from mid-wicket and does the rest.

Jacob Duffy hits the hard length, over middle. Nitish Kumar Reddy stays on the back foot and shapes up to clip it away but Duffy gets extra lift off the deck. Gets a soft leading edge to cover.

Bowling change? Nope. Jacob Duffy to bowl three on the trot.

Angled into the pads, on a good length. NKR works it off the pads to the right of mid on and takes a single to get off the mark.

Good effort! Fractionally wide, on the shorter side. Reddy slaps it hard but can't beat Jacob Duffy at backward point, who dives to his left to make the stop.

On the off stump, on a length, Nitish stabs it down on the off side.

Lovely ball! Test match line and length from Bhuvi. On a good length, in the corridor. Reddy has a poke at it and is lucky not to nick this one behind.

Keeps it on a back of a length but the line is closer to the off stump. Kishan pats it wide of cover off the back foot and gets to the other end.

FOUR! Nicely done! In the channel, on a short of a length. Kishan waits on the back foot and rides the bounce to just punch it away through covers for a boundary. Ishan brings up 3,000 runs in IPL.

A double whammy for Jacob Duffy and the crowd has erupted at the Chinnaswamy. Nitish Kumar Reddy walks out to bat next but he won't be on strike for the time being.

OUT! CAUGHT! Travis Head could not have picked out the fielder in the deep any better. A dream start on IPL debut for Jacob Duffy. It is that scrambled seam delivery again and Duffy bashes the surface. Head gets on his toes to drag the pull from the line of the off stump but the ball comes on slower than he expected. He is through his shot early and it comes off the toe end of the blade. It goes flat and straight down the throat of deep square leg, where Phil Salt does not have to move an inch. He bends and takes the reverse cup catch around his neck.

FOUR! Up and over! Fuller and on off. Head stays deep in the crease, clears his front leg before launching it over mid off. It nearly went the distance.

Beaten! Into the surface, over middle. Head gets on his toes and looks to whip it across the line but is beaten on the inside edge.

Sharp work! On a back of a length, on off, Head punches it wide of cover but not wide enough of Krunal Pandya. Krunal moves to his left swiftly and cuts down the single.

Leaving the left-hander, on a back of a length. Kishan glides it behind point and is keen for the second run but the deep third fielder gets around and keeps the batters down to a single.

One Southpaw departs and another one walks right in. The SRH skipper, Ishan Kishan, is in at number 3.

OUT! IN THE AIR AND GONE! Jacob Duffy has his first wicket in RCB colours, and it is the big one of Abhishek Sharma. Duffy bends his back and bowls it into the wicket. Scrambled seam delivery, going across the off stump. Abhishek hangs back and swivels for the pull but fails to get on top of the bounce. Slices it off the upper half of the bat behind the stumps. The keeper, Jitesh Sharma turns around and takes a few steps to his left to settle under it. He makes no mistake and the crowd goes ballistic.

RCB clearly looking to attack Abhishek Sharma's hips but their bowlers are bowling a bit too straight and drifting down the leg side.

Wide! Duffy sprays it down leg in his quest to deny Abhishek any sort of room.

Another over for Duffy? Or will we see one-over spells right away? Jacob Duffy to continue...

FOUR! Almost dragged it back onto the stumps. In line with the off stump, on a good length. Head does not move his feet at all and just stays leg side of the ball. He pushes away from his body and gets an inside edge that sneaks past the leg stump before racing down to the fine leg fence.

Leg bye! Keeps it at the bodyline of the batter, on a back of a length. Sharma is beaten on the flick and a leg bye is taken as the ball goes away on the leg side.

Wide! Down leg again, on a short of a length. Sharma swings but fails to get it away.

Oh, that could have gone anywhere! Bhuvi tucks Abhishek up for room. This is on a back of a length, around the right thigh. Sharma swivels for the pull but the ball skids through and the batter can get his hands through the ball. It catches Abhishek on the thigh before lobbing and beside Sharma and dribbling past the stumps. Abhishek had no idea where the ball was.

Wide! Drifts down leg, on the shorter side, Abhishek attempts the glance before withdrawing his bat.

On top of off, Head lets the ball come to him and runs it down to deep third with an open bat face for a single.

Well bowled! Bhuvneshwar Kumar spots Abhishek jumping out of the crease and he smartly pulls the length back, on middle. Sharma adjusts as he taps it to the left of point and hurries to the other end. Krunal Pandya has a shy at the bowling end but misses. It would not have mattered as Sharma was in anyway.

Moving back into the left-hander, on a length, at the sticks. Travis hangs back to deal with it and he turns it to the left of mid-wicket for a single.

A timid first over by SRH's standards but they'll be pleased to see off the first over without losing a wicket. Bhuvneshwar Kumar will now bowl from the opposite end.

Abhishek will feel that he missed out. Duffy tries to go full but dishes out a full toss, which catches Abhishek by surprise and he tentatively pats it to cover.

A big swing and a miss! Angling across off, on a length. Sharma swings for the hills but fails to lay any bat on it.

SIX! And Abhishek Sharma is up and running. The first six of this year's IPL inevitably comes off the blade of Abhishek. Duffy goes full in search of swing but errs in line as he offers width. Abhishek extends his hands and gets low before carving it over the deep point fence for a biggie.

Goes past the bat! Jitesh Sharma has heard something. Sharma is pretty confident and he convinces Rajat Patidar to take the review. Sliding across the left-hander, on a good length, just outside the off stump. Abhishek hangs back and fiddles at the delivery with the bat face slightly open. The ball leaves him with the angle before going towards the keeper. UltraEdge shows a flat line. Royal Challengers Bengaluru burn a review early.

Sunrisers Hyderabad are away! Slightly too straight from Duffy. Fuller and swinging back into the pads. Head swings at it whilst staying rooted to the crease. Ekes out an inside edge onto the pads and the batters sneak in a quick single as the ball dribbles towards short fine leg.

Duffy is right on the money! Steams in from over the wicket and lands it on a length, around the off stump. A bit of inward shape and Head watchfully dabs it to point.

Done and dusted with the pre-match formalities and it is now time for Season 19 to finally get underway. The players of Royal Challengers Bengaluru can be seen taking their fielding positions and after a few moments, the two umpires also make their way out to the middle. It is already almost a packed house with more and more people flocking into the stadium. It will be the Southpaw duo of Abhishek Sharma and Travis Head to open the innings for Sunrisers Hyderabad. Big call from the RCB skipper first up as Jacob Duffy has been handed the new ball ahead of Bhuvneshwar Kumar. Things could get very interesting real soon. Let's play...

A touching moment for everyone involved, and now both sets of players lineup for the Indian national anthem, with that glittering trophy showcased in the middle.

We are just minutes away from kicking off the new season in Bengaluru. The crowd is in a celebratory mood, but it is also an emotional moment for the people of Bengaluru. There will now be a moment of silence for those 11 fans who, unfortunately, lost their lives in the RCB victory celebrations after last season's triumph.

Impact subs nominated by SRH - Shivang Kumar, Liam Livingstone, David Payne, Ravichandran Smaran and Sakib Hussain.

Sunrisers Hyderabad (Playing XI) - Abhishek Sharma, Travis Head, Ishan Kishan (C/WK), Heinrich Klaasen, Aniket Verma, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Salil Arora, Harsh Dubey, Harshal Patel, Jaydev Unadkat and Eshan Malinga.

Impact subs nominated by RCB - Devdutt Padikkal, Jacob Bethell, Rasikh Salam, Kanishk Chouhan and Venkatesh Iyer.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (Playing XI) - Phil Salt, Virat Kohli, Rajat Patidar (C), Jitesh Sharma (WK), Tim David, Romario Shepherd, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Abhinandan Singh, Jacob Duffy and Suyash Sharma.

The skipper of Sunrisers Hyderabad - Ishan Kishan shares that the mood in the camp is positive, with it being the first game of the season. Shares that they would have bowled first as well, but feels that it doesn't matter much, as it is all about executing their plans. Ishan admits that not having Pat Cummins makes a big difference. He believes that it is important to keep things simple and follow your instincts. Informs that Salil Arora makes his debut, and Kishan wants him to play his natural game.

The captain of Royal Challengers Bengaluru -  Rajat Patidar says that it is the season opener, and they want to see how the wicket behaves. Mentions that there are a lot of positives from the last season, and they want to become champions again. On injuries, Rajat says that they have a good squad and a great medical team, so most of the squad is fit and raring to go. Goes on to applaud the crowd for supporting them all these years. Patidar ends by informing that new faces like Jacob Duffy and Abhinandan Singh are in the Playing XI.

TOSS - Time for the coin to go up for the first time this season. Rajat Patidar and Ishan Kishan are out in the middle alongside match referee Javagal Srinath. Kishan calls 'heads', but it has come down as a tail. The crowd goes berserk as Ian Bishop asks Patidar his decision. Royal Challengers Bengaluru elect to BOWL first.

How's the mood in the SRH camp? Travis Head is here to tell us. On putting on a massive score last time SRH played in Bengaluru, Head says that it is always nice to come back to a venue where you have good memories. Adds that going gung-ho with the bat seems to be the only way right now in T20 cricket. Travis mentions that it is great to see Abhishek Sharma come such a long way and says that he's been one of the best in the world for some time now. On Ishan Kishan, Head says that he's a great leader and with Pat also by his side, it all seems to be coming together well heading into the opening match of the season.

PITCH REPORT - Former Kiwi pacer Danny Morrison is pitchside. He begins by noting a bit of cloud cover before moving on to the dimensions. The square boundaries measure 65 metres on one side and 64 metres on the other, with the straight hit being 73 metres. Danny is joined by former England batter Kevin Pietersen, who points out a beautiful covering of grass on the surface. There are a few bare patches as well, but he does not expect them to have much of an impact. Pietersen mentions that there are plenty of runs on offer on this wicket, and the bowlers will need to be at their best. Kevin feels the captain winning the toss should look to chase, to which Morrison agrees.

What does history tell us? Defending the title is one of the toughest challenges in this league. Only the Chennai Super Kings (2010 and 2011) and the Mumbai Indians (2019 and 2020) have managed it before. Under Rajat Patidar, RCB have their sights set on joining that elite company. SRH have managed just 5 wins in 13 opening games, while RCB have been more consistent, winning 11 of their 18. Two star-studded sides capable of lighting up the stage and setting the tone for the rest of the competition. A blockbuster start awaits. Stay with us for the toss and team news.

Well begun is half done - A strong start can shape an entire campaign, and Sunrisers Hyderabad had anything but that last season. After finishing as runners-up in 2024, they managed just 2 wins in their first 7 games in 2025, leaving themselves with too much to do in the second half. Without their talismanic captain Pat Cummins for the first few games, the road ahead will not be easy. While their batting firepower is unquestionable, it is the bowling that will be put to the test, and stand-in skipper Ishan Kishan will have the responsibility of holding it all together.

From the big question to a bigger one - For years, the question echoed, is this RCB's year? In 2025, they answered it in emphatic fashion. Now, the question grows even bigger, can they defend the crown? Quite the feeling when you say it out loud, isn't it, RCB fans? Consistency was the bedrock of their rise. Five playoff appearances since 2020 laid the foundation, and it all came together in a title-winning run in 2025.

Season 19, Episode 1 - IPL is back, and as always, it promises to be better than ever. 74 matches across a two-month-long journey, as ten teams battle it out for ultimate glory. The 19th chapter of cricket's grand carnival roars into life tonight at the home of the defending champions, as Royal Challengers Bengaluru take on Sunrisers Hyderabad. 3rd June, 2025, will forever be etched in the memory of every RCB fan. Tonight promises to be a special atmosphere as they welcome their champion side back home for the first time since that unforgettable night in Ahmedabad.

... MATCH DAY ...

IPL 19 is here - As the league steps into its 19th season, its essence is best captured by the words etched on the Indian Premier League trophy - Yatra Pratibha Avsara Prapnotihi - Where Talent Meets Opportunity. Yatra - This is the journey, not just of a tournament, but of an emotion that has grown with time. Back in 2008, when the lights first came on and city-based franchises took shape, it felt like an experiment. Today, it feels like tradition. What began with eight teams stepping into the unknown expanded into a ten-team spectacle that defines the rhythm of cricketing summers. This journey has seen the game transform in real time. From no DRS to decisions reviewed frame by frame, from static playing XIs to the strategic twist of the Impact Player rule. And even when the world came to a standstill during COVID, the journey did not pause. It adapted, endured, and found a way to stay alive in living rooms across the globe. The kids who once rushed through homework to catch a game are now balancing life’s responsibilities, yet still finding those four hours of escape. They have watched MS Dhoni finish games with ice in his veins, Rohit Sharma build a dynasty, and a young Virat Kohli turn passion into legacy. It all sparked right here at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in 2008, with Brendon McCullum’s logic-defying 158*, a night that changed the sport’s DNA forever. Pratibha - If Yatra was the journey, Pratibha is the reason the journey exists. Talent, raw and unfiltered, has always been the heartbeat of this league. From a young Virat Kohli walking out as an Under-19 World Cup winner in 2008 to becoming the face of a franchise, to an unknown Jasprit Bumrah rewriting fast bowling norms with a slinging action, batters still struggle to decode. The IPL has never waited for reputations. It has created them. Think of Chris Gayle turning a T20 game into theatre with that 175*, or AB de Villiers playing shots that felt like they belonged to a different dimension, or David Warner making run accumulation look like a routine. And then there are the quieter rises. Ruturaj Gaikwad and Yashasvi Jaiswal, where patience met opportunity, and turned into consistency. Avsara - Talent alone does not write stories. It needs a stage, and that stage rarely arrives with a warning. It just shows up. That’s how stories begin here. A young Shubman Gill getting that extended run and owning it. Rinku Singh going from a supporting role to delivering one of the most unforgettable finishes the league has seen. These aren’t planned rises. They happen, and when they do, they change everything. Prapnotihi - The moment of arrival. Not when you are noticed, but when you are accepted at this level. In the IPL, promise is never enough. You have to back it up, again and again, in front of packed stadiums and millions watching. This season brings Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, 15 years old, carrying the kind of belief that does not know fear yet. It also brings what could be MS Dhoni’s final chapter, a man who did not just win in this league but taught it how to think. Two arrivals of completely different kinds, separated by decades but connected by the same truth. The IPL does not discriminate between beginnings and farewells. It simply makes them unforgettable. And that is the full circle. The same Yatra that once introduced a young Dhoni to the world now welcomes a 15-year-old who perhaps does not yet realise he is about to become part of the same story. Chapter 1 - They say patience is the sharpest weapon in the pursuit of greatness. RCB forged theirs over 18 long, relentless years. Seasons of heartbreak, near-misses, and ‘what ifs’ only made the wait more poetic. And then, finally, the long drought ended. RCB didn’t just win the title, they claimed it in a way that felt destined, deserved, and deeply satisfying. Now, the Royal Challengers don’t walk in as hopeful contenders anymore. They arrive as champions ready to defend their crown. Mathematics has never quite caught up with Sunrisers Hyderabad. Over the last couple of seasons, the Orange Army has made a habit of posting totals that once looked humanly impossible to achieve, threatening every bowling lineup that dared to stand in their way. Totals nearing 300 have stopped being outliers for this side. The DNA of this franchise has been rewired completely. However, the 2024 runner-ups aim to flip the script after missing out on the playoffs in the previous edition, finishing sixth. The stage is truly set to go ablaze as the Royal Challengers Bengaluru take on the Sunrisers Hyderabad in the curtain raiser of IPL 2026 at the iconic M Chinnaswamy Stadium. Defending champions are ready again - RCB enters the 2026 season with a strategy defined by continuity and surgical reinforcements. The retention of the 2025 core - Virat Kohli, captain Rajat Patidar, Phil Salt, and Krunal Pandya - ensures that the championship chemistry remains intact. However, the team faces immediate challenges in the bowling department. Senior Australian pacer Josh Hazlewood is expected to miss the initial matches due to fitness issues. Furthermore, Yash Dayal has been ruled out of the 2026 season due to personal issues. To counter these absences, RCB acquired Venkatesh Iyer in the mini-auction. Iyer provides a versatile left-handed option who can bat anywhere in the batting order, adding tactical flexibility for the Impact Player rule. The signing of New Zealand pacer Jacob Duffy as a backup for Hazlewood and the metronomic emergence of uncapped pacer Mangesh Yadav provide the necessary depth for the pace attack, which will again be led by the evergreen Bhuvneshwar Kumar. Bhuvi is just a couple of scalps away from completing 200 IPL wickets. The Kohli factor - There were tears. His knees on the ground. When RCB finally got their hands on that trophy, Virat Kohli felt every single second of it, and so did every soul watching. He has been this franchise's heartbeat since its inception. The numbers, as ever, do the talking. Kohli and the Chinnaswamy have a love story that Bollywood would struggle to script. A staggering 3,202 IPL runs at this ground alone, he has scored more runs than any other player has ever scored at this venue. Kohli also happens to be the highest run scorer in the history of this competition, with the record for most centuries (8) and half centuries (63) in the IPL overall. He has scored more than 600 runs for the last three seasons. RCB's batting order also includes aggressive overseas stars like Phil Salt, Jacob Bethell and the smashers Tim David and Romario Shepherd. RCB's batting order has teeth all the way down. But this unit has always had one defining feature, and it wears the number 18. Navigating leadership voids and batting firepower - SRH’s 2026 campaign begins with a major leadership challenge. Regular captain Pat Cummins is set to miss the opening matches while still recovering from a lumbar stress issue. In his absence, Ishan Kishan, who joined the team after a successful T20 World Cup, will serve as the interim captain. The team also faces the loss of Jack Edwards, who has been replaced by England’s David Payne. Despite these setbacks, the SRH batting unit remains the most feared in the competition. The combination of Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma at the top represents an ultra-aggressive opening pair in T20 history. Heinrich Klaasen continues to be the backbone of the middle order, while the addition of Liam Livingstone makes the lower middle order virtually indestructible on paper. The primary concern remains whether the bowling unit, led by Harshal Patel and Jaydev Unadkat, can contain the RCB batters at the Chinnaswamy. Another year of 'TraviShek' assault loading? They are one of the destructive pairs and have batted with a run rate of 12.6, which is the best by any pair in IPL (Min 1000 runs). They both have redefined the way of attacking from the word go. In fact, Abhishek has the best SR (Min 500 runs), while Head has the 3rd best among openers in IPL since 2024. However, both batters faced a notable dip in form in the recently concluded T20 World Cup, and a slide in their strike rates by their standards, as neither could provide the usual brisk starts for their sides. And that’s where the Ishan Kishan factor comes in. Fresh off leading Jharkhand to their maiden SMAT title, he lit up the World Cup with 317 runs in nine matches at a strike rate of 193.29, finishing fourth on the leading run-scorers list. He also loves playing against RCB, his second favourite opponent, and sits just 22 runs away from 500 against them. Lack of bite with the ball - With Pat Cummins injured and some experienced bowlers absent, the team will rely on Harshal Patel, Jaydev Unadkat, Shivam Mavi, Brydon Carse and domestic options like Praful Hinge to step up. Spinners such as Zeeshan Ansari will also be key in the middle overs. Success for SRH will depend on whether these bowlers can control runs, take wickets, and support the batting firepower. SRH's biggest concern heading into IPL 2026 remains their bowling depth and lack of an elite Indian spin option. How they tackle this challenge will be crucial to watch out for. Team form (Last 5 completed IPL matches) - RCB - WWWLW | SRH - WWWLW. Separated by 25 runs - Last time in Bengaluru, just 25 runs separated the two sides in a game that saw a staggering 549 runs scored. Sunrisers Hyderabad piled up a record 287, the highest first-innings total in IPL history. RCB came close to pulling off a remarkable chase but fell short. The match also witnessed a record 38 sixes, underlining just how explosive this rivalry can be. Another run fest loading? Chinnaswamy has always been a high-scoring venue, and breaching the 200-run mark looks like a routine due to its short boundary dimensions. However, in the last season, this figure was crossed only twice. But looking at the batting pedigree across the two sides, one could expect a galore of fours and sixes already.