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Virat Kohli and Travis Head (Source:X)
Indian legend Virat Kohli was at his vintage best when Royal Challengers Bengaluru started their IPL 2026 campaign with a commanding six-wicket win over Sunrisers Hyderabad at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium.
Chasing a challenging 202-run target, the defending champions showed their batting strength and depth, completing the chase in just 15.4 overs to send a strong early message in the tournament.
Earlier in the match, RCB captain Rajat Patidar won the toss and chose to bowl first, a decision that seemed risky on a batting-friendly surface.
However, his bowlers responded well in the powerplay. SRH suffered early setbacks, losing wickets quickly, which put them under pressure from the start.
Despite the early collapse, Ishan Kishan led from the front with an aggressive counterattack. He played a fearless innings, taking on the RCB bowlers and keeping SRH in the game.
He was well supported by Heinrich Klaasen, as the duo steadied the innings after a shaky start. Later, Aniket Verma added valuable runs in the final overs, helping SRH post a competitive total of 201/9.
Virat Kohli's aggressive send-off to Travis Head
One moment that caught everyone's attention was Virat Kohli's aggressive send-off to Travis Head in the first innings. In the third over of SRH's innings, Travis Head attempted an attacking shot but failed to connect properly, resulting in a catch near the boundary.
What followed drew immediate attention. Virat Kohli, known for his passion and intensity on the field, reacted with an animated and aggressive send-off after the dismissal.
Such fiery moments have often been a part of Virat Kohli’s on-field personality, and this is not just the first time Virat Kohli has given a fiery send-off to Travis Head. Earlier in IPL 2025, a similar send-off was seen from the former RCB captain.
In the Champions Trophy semi-final between India and Australia in 2025, Virat Kohli was also seen animated again after Travis Head's wicket.
Watch the video here:
RCB’s strong bowling sets the tone
RCB’s bowling unit played a key role in restricting SRH from reaching an even bigger total. Debutant Jacob Duffy impressed with his disciplined bowling and picked up crucial wickets in the powerplay. His early breakthroughs shifted the momentum in RCB’s favour and ensured that SRH could not fully capitalise on the batting-friendly conditions.
Also Read: Virat Kohli Gives Ishan Kishan 'Chin Massage' In Wholesome Bromance Moment
Jacob Duffy and Romario Shepherd led the RCB’s bowling and picked up three crucial wickets for the team. Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Abhinandan Singh and Suyash Sharma bagged one wicket each.
Devdutt Padikkal and Virat lead the chase for RCB
RCB’s chase began aggressively, with Devdutt Padikkal taking charge early on. Playing with flair, Padikkal attacked the SRH bowlers from the outset. He raced to a half-century in just 21 balls, putting the opposition under immense pressure.
After Padikkal’s explosive knock of 61 came to an end, Kohli took control of the innings. Known for his consistency, Virat Kohli paced the chase perfectly. He rotated the strike smartly and punished loose deliveries, ensuring there were no setbacks.
Virat Kohli remained unbeaten on 69 off 39 balls, guiding his team comfortably to victory. Patidar also contributed with a quick cameo to maintain the momentum.
RCB will play their next match against CSK on April 5 at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, and SRH, on the other hand, will face KKR on April 2 at the Eden Gardens, Kolkata.
Also Read: SRH Suffers Massive Blow! Foreign Player Nastily Injured
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