Royal Challengers Bengaluru beat Gujarat Titans by 5 wickets to move second on the table. Chasing 206, they held their nerve in a steady home-ground pursuit at Chinnaswamy.
Kohli’s controlled knock caps off record night in Bengaluru
Virat Kohli once again dictated terms at the top, finishing with 81 off 44 balls, with 8 fours and 4 sixes, in a chase that never drifted out of control for Royal Challengers Bengaluru. He was dropped on zero in the first over by Washington Sundar off Mohammed Siraj, and Gujarat Titans paid for it heavily as Kohli settled into rhythm almost immediately.
The innings added more weight to his season. Kohli is now the Orange Cap holder with 328 runs in seven matches, moving ahead of Abhishek Sharma on 323. He also crossed 800 IPL fours and 300 sixes in his career, becoming the first batter to reach both milestones in the league. The partnership with Devdutt Padikkal set the tone early and kept RCB ahead of the required rate throughout.
Padikkal supports as RCB chase never loses control
Devdutt Padikkal played a fluent hand of 55 off 27 balls, striking cleanly through the off side and punishing anything short. His innings ensured that Kohli was never forced into excess risk, and together they built a stand worth well over a hundred runs that effectively removed pressure from the chase.
RCB’s middle phase stayed steady even after wickets, with Tim David and Krunal Pandya finishing the job. The chase of 206 was completed in 18.5 overs, sealing a five-wicket win. The result pushed RCB into second place on the points table, strengthening their position heading into the final stretch of the season.
Sai Sudharsan century powers GT as RCB bowlers respond
Gujarat Titans posted 205/3 after a commanding top-order display led by a century from Sai Sudharsan. He drove the innings with clean hitting and sharp placement, finding boundaries regularly and keeping the scoring rate high through the middle overs. Shubman Gill also added a steady hand before falling after a useful start.
For RCB, the bowling effort was mixed but effective in key moments. Josh Hazlewood, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Suyash Sharma picked up important wickets to slow GT at crucial stages. Kagiso Rabada’s spell stood out for raw pace, regularly touching 150+ kmph, maintaining intensity even under pressure and forcing mistakes in the death overs.
Last home match ends in style as dropped chance proves costly
This was Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s final home game at the Chinnaswamy this season, and Kohli’s knock felt like a fitting return for the crowd that has backed them all year. The chase, built on early momentum and maintained control, underlined their comfort at home.
For Gujarat Titans, the turning point came early. The dropped catch of Kohli in the opening over proved expensive, allowing him to settle and take the game away. Despite Sudharsan’s hundred and late resistance, they could not recover from that early lapse.