Indian celebrity Virat Kohli and gifted batsman Devdutt Padikkal stole the present in the course of the IPL 2026 opener between Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) on the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore on Sunday, March 28.
Chasing 202 runs for victory towards SRH, Virat Kohli and Devdutt Padikkal put up a large partnership of 101 runs off simply 45 balls for Royal Challengers Bangalore. Padikkal performed an explosive knockout with 61 off 26 balls, whereas Kohli sustained the innings with an unbeaten 69.
Virat Kohli and Devdutt Padikkal to be within the highlight in IPL 2026 opener
Their robust and entertaining partnership led RCB to a shocking six-wicket win with 26 balls to spare towards SRH on the M Chinnaswamy Stadium. The defending champions bought off to an ideal begin as Jacob Duffy shone on his debut, taking three wickets for 22 runs to place SRH on the again foot.
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Nevertheless, it was Kohli and Padikkal who bought the job achieved, growing the scoring charge and maintaining the momentum in RCB’s favor. Taking part in at residence, the Karnataka batsmen regarded composed and in full management, carrying their robust home kind into Saturday’s 2026 season opener.
Nevertheless it was Kohli’s strategy on the crease that impressed former India worldwide and KKR batsman Aakash Chopra essentially the most and he could not cease praising the RCB icon on social media.
His greatest energy is placing ego apart: Aakash Chopra praises Virat Kohli
Chopra identified how Virat Kohli made Padikkal play together with his pure aggressiveness, by no means letting his ego get in the way in which and focusing solely on the staff’s victory.
Cricket specialists stated the previous Indian captain’s maturity and selflessness present why he stays cricket’s most revered chief and finisher.
Chopra informed X: “Kohli’s greatest energy is that he retains his ego apart…If Padikkal is powerful, he’s pleased to play second fiddle. He did the identical with Rajat. He by no means takes his eyes off the massive image…That is what ‘profitable video games’ means for Ji’s staff. Champion participant. 🙌 #RCBvSRH.”
Kohli’s greatest energy is that he retains his ego apart…if Padikkal is powerful, he’s pleased to play second fiddle. He did the identical with Rajat. He by no means takes his eyes off the massive image, which is profitable video games for Ji’s staff. Champion participant. 🙌 #RCBvSRH
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) March 28, 2026
He fully stole the match from his opponents: Virat Kohli praises Devdutt Padikkal
In the meantime, Kohli himself was filled with reward for Padikkal for his spectacular efficiency towards SRH in Bangalore. He stated within the post-match presentation: “It was a fantastic knock. I imply, from the start I used to be planning to go aggressive within the powerplay. However watching him play, I believed simply hold placing him again on strike and decide the odd boundary right here and there.”
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Kohli additional added, “He fully took the sport away from the opposition. I additionally informed him about that shot he performed off a gradual ball within the mid-overs for six. In that second, I informed him to simply hold going. You might be hitting the ball amazingly nicely. Simply hold pushing and take the sport away from the opposition. If we will end the sport with 25, 26 balls to spare, it would assist us by way of internet run charge.”
Notably, Royal Challengers Bangalore will subsequent face Chennai Tremendous Kings in an IPL 2026 match on the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore on April 5 earlier than transferring to Guwahati to tackle Rajasthan Royals on April 10.
