Page 7 - Royal Challengers Bengaluru

IPL 2026 stats: RCB vs CSK pitch report, Chinnaswamy stadium highest score

RCB began their campaign on a high note with a solid win over Sunrisers Hyderabad and will now be looking to continue their momentum in their second consecutive home game.

When I was down, Dinesh Karthik told me to take a break: Jitesh Sharma

Royal Challengers Bengaluru vice-captain Jitesh Sharma thanked former India wicketkeeper Dinesh Karthik for helping him during an emotionally difficult phase where he took some time off from the game after his father's demise. Jitesh said Karthik encouraged him to step away briefly and recover emotionally after his father passed away in February this year. "DK anna asked me to take a break, put the bat away for a while and spend time with my family and friends. That helped me reset," Jitesh said in a RCB podcast. Jitesh had spoken extensively to PTI last month about how priorities changed in his life briefly after his father's passing and that he was able to spend the last few days by his bed-side. Jitesh had played a massive role in RCB's maiden IPL triumph last year during which Karthik had also contributed as a batting coach and mentor. "A lot of the credit for my growth goes to DK 'anna'. He helped me understand my game better, use my strengths properly and improve mentally,"

IPL 2026: Sri Lanka's Thushara seeks court intervention to play for RCB

Sri Lankan fast bowler Nuwan Thushara on Thursday sought a court order to secure his playing rights in the ongoing IPL after the country's cricket board refused to grant him a No Objection Certificate due to "failed fitness tests". The 31-year-old, who is contracted to Royal Challengers Bengaluru, filed a case in the Colombo District Court, seeking an order directing Sri Lanka Cricket to issue the NOC. The case has been fixed for hearing on April 9. According to local media reports, the player with 30 T20 international appearances for his country since 2022, has pleaded that his contract with the SLC ended on March 31 and he had no desire to seek an extension. He said he had told the SLC about his wish to end his international career. Therefore, denial of NOC citing failed fitness tests should be set aside by the court. SLC had made fitness tests mandatory to be picked for the national team. However, Thushara said his fitness levels were never found wanting and he had been allowe

From Hindi to English: Full list of commentators for JioStar in IPL 2026

JioStar will offer IPL 2026 coverage across 20+ feeds. Star Sports will broadcast in 5 languages, while JioHotstar expands options to include Punjabi, Bhojpuri, Marathi, Bengali, Gujarati, Malayalam

Here's how Jio users can live stream IPL 2026 for free on JioHotstar

For fans using the Jio SIM network, the company has some good news, as it is offering recharge plans with a free JioHotstar subscription. Check how to watch IPL 2026 live streaming for free here

BigBasket partners RCB as official qcom partner for T20 League 2026

Tata-owned platform continues third year of association with Royal Challengers Bengaluru, expanding digital engagement and fan experiences during the 2026 T20 League

MI vs KKR HIGHLIGHTS IPL 2026: Rohit-Ryan star in Mumbai's first win in season opener since 2012

IPL 2026 HIGHLIGHTS: Mumbai Indians' 221-run chase vs Kolkata Knight Riders today is their highest successful chase in IPL, surpassing 219 run chase vs CSK in 2021

IPL 2026: Patidar says RCB not here to defend, focus on fresh start

Skipper Rajat Patidar said Royal Challengers Bengaluru have put behind the euphoria of winning the IPL last season, and the team's focus is now simply on "ticking all the boxes" to win another trophy this year. RCB made a rollicking start to IPL 2026, subjugating Sunrisers Hyderabad by six wickets here on Saturday, but Patidar said they are not viewing this season's campaign particularly as a title defence. "We are not here with the mindset that we have to defend anything, what we did in 2025 has passed. We are here with the mindset that in 2026 we have to tick all the boxes and that will help us win the trophy this year," Patidar said in the post-match press conference. In that context, RCB made a bold tick in three boxes after Virat Kohli, Devdutt Padikkal and Jacob Duffy produced brilliant efforts to anchor the team's win. First, Patidar waxed eloquent on Kohli. "Virat Kohli is a number one chase master, so, I always liked his batting and to watch his batting from the dugout, t

IPL 2026: RCB's early momentum driven by Padikkal's ruthless touch

Devdutt Padikkal regally whipped pacer Jaydev Unadkat's full ball on his pads over backward square leg for a six. It was not an unusual sight for a batter for whom flick forms one of the bread and butter shots. But it was unprecedented because Devdutt has seldom hit a six off the first ball. The left-hander tends to settle down before unleashing himself on the bowlers. However, the left-hander shed his linear nature against Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL 2026 opener here on Saturday, and it was just the beginning. In the next 10 balls he faced, Devdutt produced two more sixes and three fours, racing to 34 in 11 balls, strike-rate hovering over 300. In fact, his 26-ball 61 was representative of the transformation happening to his batting since 2024 or early 2025. In this period, Devdutt has made 543 runs at an average of 60.33 in the Ranji Trophy, 725 runs at 90.62 in the Vijay Hazare Trophy and 309 runs at a strike rate of 167.02 in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. Karnataka coach Y

IPL 2026: Kohli walks the talk, energy bizarre at this age, says Ashwin

All praise for Virat Kohli, former off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin says the Indian stalwart continues to "walk the talk" with his unmatched energy and intensity despite having retired from Test and T20I formats. Returning to T20 cricket for the first time since last year's IPL final on June 3, Kohli showed no signs of rust, smashing his 28th IPL half-century (69 not out off 38 balls) to power defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru to a commanding six-wicket win over Sunrisers Hyderabad in the 2026 season-opener. "He walks the talk," Ashwin said on a JioHotstar show. "It's almost like he's putting on a show for people to see how the game should be played, play it hard and play it the way it's meant to be played. That stood out for me with respect to what Virat did." Kohli was already in sublime touch coming into the IPL, having scored 93, 23 and 124 in the ODI series against New Zealand in January, where he finished as India's leading run-getter. The 37-year-old had also .

IPL 2026: No fixed attack policy, says Patidar; praises Kohli's after win

"No words can describe Virat Kohli. When he is in, the team is always in the chase. He is the No. 1 batter," said Royal Challengers Bengaluru captain Rajat Patidar, following his side's commanding victory against Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL 2026 season opener on Saturday. Patidar, who led from the front with 12-ball-31, called it a collective effort while singling out Kohli's chase-defining 38-ball-69 not out and debutant Jacob Duffy's impact with the new ball. Asked if he was happy, Patidar replied: "The way boys played and this was a season opener. Everyone chipped in and did the job. Duffy was playing his first game and the way he played and the wickets he took were the turning point." When asked if RCB would follow Team India's attack at all cost policy, he didn't quite agree. "Not a policy, we assessed the wicket and it was good. Padikkal and Kohli's innings were the base. No words for Virat. The way he goes in, the team is chasing. He is the No. 1 batter." He also praised

IPL 2026: Breaks ensured I stay mentally fresh and excited, says Kohli

The iconic Virat Kohli believed that periodic breaks from the game have helped him stay mentally fresh and avoid burnout, after stroking his 28th IPL half-century at the Chinnaswamy Stadium here on Saturday. His effort came in RCB's walk-in-the-park six-wicket win against Sunrisers Hyderabad in the lung opener. Kohli, who made a 38-ball-69 with five maximums and equal number of boundaries, showed that stepping away from the game at regular intervals has been crucial in maintaining peak performance despite playing his first T20 match since the IPL final last year. Asked if there is a chance of turning in under prepared since he hasn't played T20 cricket for 10 months, Kohli said: "Well, you know, the kind of scheduling that we've had over the last 15 years and the amount of cricket I've played, for me there was always a risk of getting burnt out rather than being undercooked. So these breaks helped me immensely. I stay fresh, I stay excited." The 37-year-old stressed that he never .

Captain Kishan continues T20 World Cup form, slams 80 runs off 38 balls

Ishan Kishan, along with Heinrich Klaasen (31 runs off 22 balls), added 97 runs for the fourth wicket to help SRH put a challenging total on the board

Kohli scripts history! Find top five batters with most IPL runs in chases

Virat Kohli scripted history in the IPL 2026 opener by becoming the first batter to cross 4,000 runs in run chases in the tournament’s history.

Virat Kohli becomes first batter to cross 4,000 IPL runs in chases

The right-handed batter achieved this historic feat during the IPL 2026 opener between the defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH)

Kohli shines, Salt’s screamer seal RCB’s six-wicket win over SRH

A stunning one-handed catch by Phil Salt to dismiss a rampaging Ishan Kishan proved to be a turning point as Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) outclassed Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) by six wickets.

RCB vs SRH HIGHLIGHTS IPL 2026: Kolhi, Paddikal star as RCB chase down 202 runs inside 16 overs

IPL 2026 HIGHLIGHTS: Virat Kohli, with his brilliant unbeaten 69-run innings vs SRH, became the first batter to score 4000 runs while chasing in IPL

IPL 2026 live streaming: Where to watch RCB vs SRH cricket match live?

JioHotstar in India will stream the IPL 2026 match between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Sunrisers Hyderabad through its app and website

IPL 2026: Kohli at top of his game and hungry, says RCB coach Flower

The 18 passing IPL summers have not affected Virat Kohli's "drive and hunger" to touch new heights as a sportsperson, and still remains on top of his game, reckoned Royal Challengers Bengaluru head coach Andy Flower here on Friday. Kohli was RCB's leading run-getter last year, scoring 657 runs when the franchise landed its maiden IPL trophy, and Flower did not see any reason for the master batter not doing an encore. "I've been watching really closely (Kohli batting at nets), he looks on top of his game, he looks super fit. I was watching him do shuttles the other day, he looks light on his feet, very fit, very lean, very hungry," said Flower in the pre-match press conference. "He's always been very hungry and determined and I think that mental and emotional space that he's in, where he's very comfortable with himself as a person, but he's also very hungry to drive himself as a professional sportsperson," he added. However, Kohli will be playing his first tournament since appearing

IPL 2026: RCB vs SRH pitch report, highest score, Chinnaswamy Stadium stats

The M. Chinnaswamy Stadium returns to the IPL spotlight after nearly a year without hosting matches, and it is expected to stay true to its reputation as a batting paradise