Virat Kohli’s unbeaten 69 led RCB to a dominant six-wicket win over Sunrisers Hyderabad in an IPL opener preceded by a tribute to 11 fans who died in a stampede last year
VIRAT Kohli delivered a masterclass as defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru launched their title defence with a commanding six-wicket victory over Sunrisers Hyderabad. The season opener at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium was preceded by a poignant tribute to the 11 fans who lost their lives in a stampede after last year’s victory parade.
A minute’s silence was observed and 11 seats were left empty in their memory. Players from both sides also wore black armbands as a mark of respect.
Kohli, playing his first competitive match since retiring from international T20s, anchored the chase of 202 with an unbeaten 69 from just 38 balls. His innings included five fours and five sixes, steering RCB home with 26 balls to spare.
“Whenever I come back to play, it’s 120 percent,” Kohli said after the match. “I’m not coming back underprepared, in fact, the extra rest helps me mentally freshen up.”
He added that his focus remains on performance, not merely holding a spot. “You want to keep performing and keep putting in the work for the team,” he stated.
Hyderabad, batting first, posted 201 for nine. Stand-in captain Ishan Kishan top-scored with a blistering 80 from 38 deliveries. He shared a crucial 97-run partnership with Heinrich Klaasen, who made 31.
RCB’s new overseas signing, New Zealand seamer Jacob Duffy, made an immediate impact on his IPL debut. He claimed 3 for 22, dismissing openers Abhishek Sharma and Travis Head early to disrupt Hyderabad’s top order.
Kishan’s innings was eventually ended by a spectacular catch from England’s Phil Salt. Salt covered significant ground in the deep to take a stunning one-handed catch off Abhinandan Singh.
In reply, RCB lost Salt for eight early. However, impact substitute Devdutt Padikkal counter-attacked brilliantly, smashing 61 from just 26 balls. He shared a match-defining 101-run stand with Kohli.
Kohli sealed the win in style, hitting a six and three consecutive fours to finish the game. Hyderabad’s stand-in skipper, Ishan Kishan, acknowledged areas for improvement. “We’ll be a little more cautious with the bowling, areas where we need to execute, and we might be stronger from the next game,” he said.
Kishan is leading the side in the absence of regular captain Pat Cummins. The Australian is recovering from a back injury and is expected to return later in the tournament.