RCB vs CSK Highlights, IPL 2026: RCB hand royal punishment to CSK to win by 43 runs

Fans are not holding back. One reaction points out how Riyan Parag credited team plans for success, while questioning CSK’s approach, suggesting there is a lack of clear strategy and support from the coaching staff. When results go south, the spotlight quickly shifts beyond just the players.

That is a wrap. CSK have been well and truly battered tonight. They did manage to cross the 200 mark, which is a positive, but there is plenty to address in the dressing room after this one.

RCB win by 43 runs.

Social media is having a field day with this one. One post sums it up perfectly, joking that all this carnage started because someone was labelled an overseas player. Safe to say, the internet is enjoying this chaos as much as the fans in the stands.

Nice moment that. Kohli gives Sarfaraz a whistle and a clap as he walks back, a classy nod to a fine knock even in the middle of a tense game.

That should be it. Overton is gone, and it feels like the final nail in the coffin. As much as you would love a twist, this looks beyond CSK now.

Not much known about Kartik Sharma yet, but Prashant Veer has definitely caught the eye. Even with the dismissal, there is plenty for CSK fans to feel positive about. He has looked solid and confident, though the real test will be how he handles conditions when there is a bit more in the pitch.

Prashant Veer 43(29) c. R Patidar b. Bhuvneshwar Kumar

RCB vs CSK, IPL 2026 Live Score: CSK 165/7 in 15.1 ov, (Overton 27*, Noor 0*)

What is Krunal Pandya on?

He has gone full chaos mode, banging in bouncers like a man possessed. And the wild part is, it is actually working. The usual lengths were not doing much for him, so he switches it up and goes short. Now the batters look completely unsure of what to do.

CSK fans are in full emotional mode right now. One even jokingly urges MS Dhoni to stay away from this “debris and wreckage” and enjoy farming, bike rides and shingada instead. When the memes get this poetic, you know it has been a tough night.

Jamie Overton is absolutely creaming the ball off Romario Shepherd right now. Loose stuff on offer and Overton is making sure it gets the treatment. Not quite sure what Shepherd was trying there, but he is being made to pay for every mistake.

RCB vs CSK Live Score, IPL 2026: CSK (136/6 in 12 ov.). Prashant Veer (17*), Jamie Overton (24*)

Sarfaraz Khan continues to stand tall for CSK. After heavy investment in their batting unit, it is the 75 lakh man who keeps delivering, showing more consistency than some of the bigger names around him.

WHAT A CATCH!

Shivam Dube gets an inside edge and Jitesh Sharma pulls off a stunner behind the stumps. Flies to his right and gets both gloves cleanly underneath it. Absolute brilliance.

RCB vs CSK Live Score, IPL 2026: CSK (108/6 in 9.5 ov.)

Shivam Dube c Jitesh Sharma b Abhinandan Singh 18(13) 

Is CSK missing MS Dhoni the captain? Sure it is valid, but the question is when will they move on? 

Krunal Pandya is built differently right now. Comes in and bangs in two sharp bouncers in the over, keeping the batters on their toes. That last one to Prashant Veer was clocked at 126 kph. Serious heat from the all-rounder.

And he is not done yet. Picks up the big wicket of Kartik Sharma, who tries to take him on again and pays the price. You do wonder about the approach here. Whatever happened to biding your time and taking the chase deep?

RCB vs CSK Live Score, IPL 2026: CSK (84/5 in 6.5 ov). Shivam Dube (7*), Prashant Veer (0*)  

Kartik Sharma 6(3) c Abhinandan Singh b Krunal Pandya

Sarfaraz Khan’s fighting knock comes to a screeching halt, and it is Krunal Pandya who strikes with his very first ball. Keeps it straight, Sarfaraz charges down expecting turn, and is beaten all ends up. Simple stumping for Jitesh Sharma, and that is a massive breakthrough for RCB. This could be the moment that tilts the game, though CSK are not out of it just yet.

RCB vs CSK Live Score, IPL 2026: CSK (77/4 in 6.1 ov). Kartik Sharma (6*), Shivam Dube (0*)

Sarfaraz Khan 50(25) st Jitesh Sharma b Krunal Pandya

This is proper playmaking from Sarfaraz Khan. No need for the unorthodox here, he is doing it the classic way and still making it look stylish. Brings up a fine fifty, his maiden one in CSK colours, and he is not slowing down.

CB vs CSK Live Score, IPL 2026: CSK (77/3 in 6 ov). Sarfaraz Khan (50*), Kartik Sharma (6*)

CSK ring in a change, bringing in Kartik Sharma as the Impact Sub for Khaleel Ahmed. He is yet to get going, but Sarfaraz Khan is keeping things moving nicely and scoring at a brisk pace. If you look at the bigger picture, a middle order featuring Sarfaraz alongside Dewald Brevis has the potential to be a seriously dangerous combination.

RCB vs CSK Live Score, IPL 2026: CSK (64/3 in 5 ov). Sarfaraz Khan (37*), Kartik Sharma (1*)

Fans are not having any of it from the Chennai Super Kings camp. This genuinely could be the worst position CSK has been in. Not just the position on the table but rather the state the franchise is in at the moment. 

This really could be a looong season for CSK indeed. 

Sheer disappointment for Chennai. Sanju Samson fails in CSK colours for the 3rd time in a row. When he hit that six over fine-leg, there were lingering thoughts that this could be the one. But nevertheless, he gets the edge which carries to the man at slips. 

RCB vs CSK Live Score, IPL 2026: CSK (30/3 in 2.5 ov). Sarfaraz Khan (12*), Kartik Sharma (0*)

Sanju Samson 9(5) c Devdutt Padikkal b Jacob Duffy

Sarfaraz Khan comes in at No.4. I like this move; he has been amongst CSK's only consistent performers with that bat this season, and he could look to make a big play against his former franchise. Strong start considering that he has boundaries is coming in one way or the other. Interesting to see how Sanju goes about his business.  

RCB vs CSK Live Score, IPL 2026: CSK (19/2 in 2 overs). Sanju Samson (2*), Sarfaraz Khan (8*)

Played like a fiddle would be the term here. Ayush Mhatre looked to go straight away considering the target but that results in him holing out to the man at the mid-off region. 

Jacob Duffy continues where he left off. This is a nightmare for CSK fans as Ruturaj Gaikwad falls in the very first over. Is this a repeat of what we saw against the Rajasthan Royals?

What a finish from Royal Challengers Bengaluru. They hit 97 runs in the last 5 overs, taking their total to 250 runs!

And all credit to Tim David, who plays 19 balls there, and comes out with a massive score of 69 runs.

CSK bowling was made to suffer in the last 5 overs. After bowling well for the first 10, CSK lost the plot. It started with Noor Ahmad getting hit for 16, in his second last over.

Rajat Patidar and Devdutt Padikkal started the show, and after that it was just Tim David.

 This is the highest total of the season so far, and it will take some doing for CSK if they are to chase this total down.

Will it be possible? 

Chase is coming right up, ladies and gentlemen.

RCB vs CSK Live Score, IPL 2026: RCB (250/3 in 20 overs). Tim David (70*), Rajat Patidar (48*). 

OH MY DAYS!!!

Tim David has ripped into RCB,and has hit Jamie Overton for 30 runs in the 19th over.

Overton tries the same thing as Anshul Kamboj. But he gets the full treatment from David, who simply overpowers him through the leg side.

4 sixes and a boundary from Tim David in the 19th over, and that allows RCB to climb to 237 runs at the end of the 19th over.

Tim David completes his fifty and races to 65 off just 23 balls.

RCB vs CSK Live Score, IPL 2026: RCB (237/3 in 19 overs). Tim David (65*), Rajat Patidar (40*). 

What an eventful 18th over in RCB vs CSK!

Anshul Kamboj bowls from round the wicket.

He gets hit for a boundary in the very first ball of the over. But Kamboj persists. His methods pay off as he rattles the stumps from around the legs of Tim David in the 5th ball of the over.

BUT IT IS A NO BALL!

Tim David utilises that and absolutey clobbers Kamboj in the very next ball.

Hammered! Absolutely hammered.

Tim David has smashed three sixes off Noor Ahmad.

The Afghan spinner is rattled. He has gone short and wide in all of his balls and has been absolutely slapped in that over.

Noor gives away 21 runs in his final over - which makes it 37 in his last two.

He finishes with 4-0-49-0. 

RCB vs CSK Live Score, IPL 2026: RCB (193/3 in 17 overs). Tim David (22*), Rajat Patidar (40*). 

Rajat Patidar is in trouble. Very full from Khaleel, going across Patidar. The ball sneaks below Patidar's attempted slog and hits his leg.

Khaleel is interested, but the umpire does not give it out.

CSK ask for a review.

DRS says that the ball clipped the lower portion of his bat.

The RCB captain makes the best use of survving, and slashes Khaleel for a four through the off side in the very next ball.

Patidar seals off the over with a massive slog through the leg side.

19 from Khaleel Ahmed's final over.

He finishes off with 4-0-37-0.

RCB vs CSK Live Score, IPL 2026: RCB (172/3 in 16 overs). Tim David (2*), Rajat Patidar (40*). 

Jamie Overton hits back!

Chennai get a break after three overs of absolute hammering.

Overton returns to the attack and fires in a yorker at 148kmph. Padikkal, who was looking to scoop the ball, gets his stumps rattle.

Excellent over from Overton, who gives away just 3 runs in that over.

Padikkal's wicket bring in finisher Tim David to the crease.

RCB vs CSK Live Score, IPL 2026: RCB (153/3 in 15 overs). Tim David (1*), Rajat Patidar (23*). 

Chennai Super Kings had kept Devdutt Padikkal quiet for so long, but things are unravelling now from them.

Three poor overs from Noor Ahmad, Shivam Dube and now Matt Henry have resulted in the batter racing to his fifty.

Here's a simple stat for context:

Padikkal was 16 off 15 balls in the 10th over. He has scored 44 runs in the next 13.

Padikkal reaches his fifty in 28 balls, and RCB have recovered their run-rate in this match.

RCB vs CSK Live Score, IPL 2026: RCB (151/2 in 14 overs). Devdutt Padikkal (50*), Rajat Patidar (23*). 

After Rajat Patidar's charge, Devdutt Padikkal takes a massive over from Shivam Dube. 

A very very poor over from Shivam Dube, who goes wide to the left hander. His lines are all wrong, and Padikkal punishes him with two sixes and two fours, by slashing at the balls hard.

23 runs from Dube's over, and RCB have found the phase of the play that they wanted so badly.

RCB vs CSK Live Score, IPL 2026: RCB (137/2 in 13 overs). Devdutt Padikkal (43*), Rajat Patidar (16*). 

Rajat Patidar has attacked from his very first ball!

He has taken the attack to Noor Ahmad, who has bowled very well tonight.

In the very first ball of the 12th over, Rajat Patidar lofts Noor over the square, starting the over with tremendous intent.

That frees up pressure on the other end as well, as Devdutt Padikkal steps down the pitch and hits Noor straight over the bowler's head for a massive six.

RCB go past a 100 runs in style, as they take 16 runs off Noor's 3rd over.

RCB vs CSK Live Score, IPL 2026: RCB (114/2 in 12 overs). Devdutt Padikkal (28*), Rajat Patidar (9*).  

WICKET!!

Phil Salt gives into the pressure. With Devdutt Padikkal not batting well, Phil Salt looked to take the attack to CSK, and he falls while doing that.

Shivam Dube strikes in his very first over of the match. Slower ball, dug into the pitch. Salt wanted to go hell for leather and lost his shape while pulling the ball.

Noor Ahmad, standing at deep mid wicket completes the catch.

Good over from Noor Ahmad.

He concedes just 4 runs from the 10th over.

Devdutt Padikkal plays five balls of that over, from which is scores just 3 runs.

Padikkal looks frustrated at the moment.

Chennai Super Kings coach is happy with the team's bowling unit so far.

Fleming says that the bowlers have been hitting the right lengths, and have bowled attacking. Fleming wishes that they fielded better in the first 10 overs of the game.

Meanwhile, Gaikwad has brought in Jamie Overton into the attack. He replaces Anshul Kamboj.

A slog sweep from Phil Salt results in Noor Ahmad getting hit for a six through the cow corner, in otherwise what was a decent over.

Noor bowls a variation of flighted deliveries and balls that he pushes through in the air.

He keeps Salt quiet majorly, but gets hammered for a six on a ball that he floated too close to the batter.

 RCB vs CSK Live Score, IPL 2026: RCB (76/1 in 8 overs). Devdutt Padikkal (5*), Phil Salt (41*).  

CSK captain Ruturaj Gaikwad has introduced the first over of spin.

This comes after a poor over from Anshul Kamboj, who bowled short and onto the body against Phil Salt.

Salt took full advantage of that, hitting the bowler through the leg side for a six and a four.

Noor Ahmad has now been handed the ball as CSK look to remove Salt and Padikkal.

RCB vs CSK Live Score, IPL 2026: RCB (66/1 in 7 overs). Devdutt Padikkal (3*), Phil Salt (33*).  

The powerplay is done!

Phil Salt seals the final ball of the sixth over with a boundary

Here's the powerplay report from the RCB vs CSK game:

• 1. Chennai Super Kings bowl 6 overs of pace at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium
• 2. Khaleel, Matt Henry bowl disciplined lines in the first two overs.
• 3. RCB start jittery, survives a run out and a dropped catch.
• 4. After surviving, Kohli starts hitting the ball, and rapidly reaches 24 runs off 15 balls.
• 5. Ruturaj Gaikwad brings in Anshul Kamboj, who gets the wicket of Virat Kohli in his very first over.
• 6. Devdutt Padikkal comes in at No.3 and survives a couple of plays and misses
• At the end of the powerplay, RCB are 51 runs for the loss of 1 wicket.

RCB vs CSK Live Score, IPL 2026: RCB (51/1 in 6 overs). Devdutt Padikkal (2*), Phil Salt (20*).  

In case you missed it.

Here's how CSK picked up Virat Kohli's wicket today.

Chennai Super Kings have finally managed to dismiss Virat Kohli.

Anshul Kamboj, the first change in the bowling attack, hits the hard length. Kohli, once again, went for the shot, and ended up sending the ball high in the sky.

Shivam Dube, standing at long on, this time, does not drop it.

He almost gets the wicket of Phil Salt as well, but a thick outside edge flies beyond the outstretched, diving hands of Sanju Samson.

My colleague, Akshay, mutters in the background - Dhoni would have taken it.

RCB vs CSK Live Score, IPL 2026: RCB (43/1 in 5 overs). Virat Kohli (28*), Phil Salt (13*).  

No look shot from Virat Kohli. The master is not going to give you more than two chances in a game, CSK. I am sorry.

Kohli returns to play his best shots, after a slightly jittery start in the first 3 overs.

Matt Henry is at the hammering end, and he concedes 16 runs of the over.

RCB vs CSK Live Score, IPL 2026: RCB (33/0 in 4 overs). Virat Kohli (24*), Phil Salt (8*). 

Chance goes begging!

This is the repeat of the chance in the first over.

Khaleel Ahmed forces Virat Kohli to play cross. The ball goes high up in the sky. Shivam Dube is going back and he reaches the ball. The ball drops into his hands, but he fails to grab hold onto the ball.

HORROR! ABSOLUTE HORROR FROM DUBE. Khaleel Ahmed is down on his haunches.

RCB vs CSK Live Score, IPL 2026: RCB (17/0 in 3 overs). Virat Kohli (9*), Phil Salt (7*). 

A disciplined start from Matt Henry and Khaleel Ahmed in the first two overs from the game. Both have stayed on the good length and have been able to slightly move the ball.

Kohli pulled one of Henry's shortish balls well, but the shot was saved from going to the boundary by a diving Noor Ahmed at deep square leg.

RCB vs CSK Live Score, IPL 2026: RCB (11/0 in 2 overs). Virat Kohli (6*), Phil Salt (5*).

Khaleel Ahmed swings the ball early on!

It is an eventful over where Phil Salt nearly finds the outside edge, with a ball swinging away from the batter.

Salt then slashes hard, but only gets a single to third man!

It is time for Khaleel vs Virat Kohli

Kohli taps the first ball to cover. He storms for a run, but Salt is not interested. Kohli has to return back, and nearly gets run out.

The next ball to Kohli flies straight up in the air - over mid on, falls just beyond Shivam Dube.

The final ball of the over is another edgy affair. Kohli slashes his bat against the away swinger, and nearly edges the ball to the keeper.

RCB vs CSK Live Score, IPL 2026: RCB (5/0 in 1 ov). Virat Kohli (2*), Phil Salt (3*).

HERE. WE. GO.

Khaleel Ahmed bowling to Phil Salt.

An enthralling game is coming up, ladies and gentlemen.

A raging fast bowler against a top-tier batter, Khaleel Ahmed vs Virat Kohli is going to be a contest to watch.

What is Virat Kohli's record vs Khaleel Ahmed you ask?

6 Matches

46 Runs

184 Strike-Rate

1 Dismissal

RCB are batting first in this game.

In their last match against SRH, the ball moved around all sorts in the first 6 overs.

If that happens today, RCB need to be wary of Khaleel Ahmed, who has the ability to move around the new ball.

Focus will be on Virat Kohli as to how does he navigate that threat.

Sanju Samson (wk), Ruturaj Gaikwad (c), Ayush Mhatre, Sarfaraz Khan, Shivam Dube, Prashant Veer, Jamie Overton, Noor Ahmad, Anshul Kamboj, Matt Henry, Khaleel Ahmed

Phil Salt, Virat Kohli, Devdutt Padikkal, Rajat Patidar (c), Jitesh Sharma (wk), Tim David, Romario Shepherd, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Abhinandan Singh, Jacob Duffy

Woah, was that a dig at Rajasthan Royals from Sanju Samson.

In the pre-match interview, Samson says:

"I am feeling good. It is a new franchise, new people. Getting to know what a champion side is made of."

I mean, Rajasthan did win the opening season of the IPL!

Chennai Super Kings win the toss and have opted to field first.

Ruturaj Gaikwad says that this is a high-scoring ground and they would like to have a look at the surface first.

The big news is that - there is no MS Dhoni in the CSK line-up today.

Ruturaj reveals that MS Dhoni is slowly building up his fitness.

Alright then. We are just three minutes away from the toss.

Faf du Plessis is on the broadcast, and says that there is not much grass on the pitch. But, he says that the bounce is going to be spongy, as always.

It is expected that young Dewald Brevis will return to the team today.

Last year, the South African youngster scored a golden duck on the venue. He will be raring to change that today., if he plays that is.

Virat Kohli guided the RCB to a win in the opening game of the season. Last year, he was the team's anchor go helped RCB go through some tough games.

The fans will want to see some big hits from the lower order as well.

Maybe a good game for Tim David to come to the party?

RCB and CSK players are at the ground and are warming up at the moment.

No sign of MS Dhoni.

The legendary MS Dhoni is unlikely to play the game tonight. Dhoni had a calf strain before the team's opener, and there are no indications that he will play today.

Meanwhile, check out Akshay Ramesh's preview for the game.

How can the CSK side survive against RCB.

It is difficult, but former CSK player Ambati Rayudu believes that the key to CSK doing well is for their openers Ruturaj Gaikwad and Sanju Samson to do well.

"Both the openers have the game to take on Jacob Duffy. His game plan is to take the away from the batter and vary his length. I think both batters have the ability to cut the ball. I think they can really take him on and I think they should be fearless with the bat. It creates a very good contest if they do so," Ambati Rayudu said on Cricbuzz.

"So often players are so wrapped up in hitting down the ground. When a bowler bowls back of the length, you can use the pace. Maybe you can give a touch of room and cut the ball over the fielders," Aaron Finch added to Rayudu's observation.

Akshay is right in saying that CSK barely stand a chance against the RCB.

Chennai Super Kings have made a horror start to the season once again.

In their first match of the season, against Rajasthan Royals, they were ripped apart by Jofra Archer and Nandre Burger.

In their second match, they did not fare any better. Playing against Punjab Kings, their batting faltered again. They scored a total of 209 runs, which was not enough for the hosts to defend.

Can they make a comeback tonight?

Few rivalries in the IPL carry as much emotional weight. Historically, Chennai Super Kings have held the upper hand in this fixture, consistently outmanoeuvring RCB across phases and conditions.

In 36 matches, RCB have managed just 13 wins, losing 22 to the Super Kings. Even at their home venue, the margin is closer, with RCB winning six and losing five.

Akshay Ramesh wrote the preview for the match today. Despite being an ardent CSK fan, Akshay has not given a chance to the Men in Yellow.

"Heading into this southern derby on the back of two spirit-crushing defeats, CSK are searching not just for points, but for a pulse. A 0–3 record in their last three meetings against the defending champions only deepens the unease, as does a bowling unit that currently leaks more than a cheap tap in the monsoon. The lion’s den, it seems, has shifted north. RCB are favourites, yes," writes Akshay Ramesh.

It is a good time to introduce myself.

I am Kingshuk Kusari, and I am going to take you through the game today. In the RCB vs CSK live blog, you will not only find match updates, you will also find the best conversations related to the game.

You will get to know about what the fans and experts are talking about, how the social media is reacting - everything together in one place.

So, sit back and relax, as we bring you the best coverage of the game.

Hello and welcome to India Today's live coverage of the Indian Premier League 2026.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru are hosting Chennai Super Kings at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium for the second game on Doubleheader Sunday.

Stay tuned, as we bring you the live updates from the game today.