New Delhi: Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) thrashed Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) by six wickets in the first game of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on Saturday, March 28. The defending champions scripted history in the game by pulling off the fastest-ever 200-plus chase in the IPL.

RCB broke the record held by Rajasthan Royals for the fastest-ever 200-plus chase in IPL history. The defending champions rode on brilliant half-centuries from Virat Kohli and Devdutt Padikkal to chase down the target of 202 runs in just 15.4 overs against SRH in Bengaluru on Saturday. Kohli top-scored with an unbeaten 69 off 38 balls, while Padikkal smashed a blistering 61 off just 26 balls.

It was a dominant batting performance from RCB in the run chase as they made a mockery of the SRH bowling attack at home. In pursuit of the 202-run target, RCB lost opener Phil Salt cheaply on 8 in the 2nd over. However, Kohli and Padikkal combined to dash any hopes of SRH making further inroads in the RCB batting line-up.

The duo shared a 101-run stand for the second wicket to set the stage for a cruising victory for the hosts. Padikkal was the aggressor in the partnership as he raced to his fifty off just 21 balls. He finished with 61 off 26 balls, studded with seven fours and four sixes. After the left-hander’s dismissal, Kohli completed his first fifty of the season off 33 balls in the season opener.

Kohli upped the ante after reaching his half-century and hit a flurry of boundaries to take RCB home with 26 balls to spare. He finished with 69 of 38 balls, laced with five sixes and as many fours. In between Padikkal and Kohli’s fifty, RCB captain Rajat Patidar smoked 31 off just 12 balls to make the run chase look a walk in the park for the hosts.

RCB became the first team to chase down a target of 200-plus runs with more than 25 balls to spare in the IPL. They broke RR’s record for fastest 200-plus chase in the league’s history. RR chased down a target of 210 runs in 15.5 (25 balls to spare) against Gujarat Titans at Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur on April 28, 2025.

Fastest 200-plus chases in IPL history:

15.4 – RCB vs SRH, Bengaluru, 2026*

15.5 – RR vs GT, Jaipur, 2025

16.0 – RCB vs GT, Ahmedabad, 2024

16.3 – MI vs RCB, Wankhede, 2023

17.3 – DC vs GL, Delhi, 2017