Virat Kohli, Anushka Sharma exchange flying kisses after RCB's opener
RCB vs SRH, IPL 2026: Virat Kohli's unbeaten 69 powers RCB to a six-wicket win over SRH in IPL 2026 opener, capped by a flying kiss to Anushka Sharma at a roaring Chinnaswamy Stadium.
Virat Kohli once again showed why he is regarded as one of the finest chasers in the game, guiding Royal Challengers Bengaluru to a comfortable six-wicket win over Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL 2026 opener at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium on Saturday.
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Chasing a competitive target of 202, Kohli anchored the innings to perfection, finishing unbeaten on 69 off 38 balls. His knock, studded with five fours and five sixes, ensured RCB chased down the total with ease in just 15.4 overs, setting the tone for their title defence in emphatic fashion.
There was also a lighter moment towards the end of the chase. After sealing the win, Kohli was seen blowing a flying kiss towards Anushka Sharma, who was present in the stands. The crowd loved it, capping off a memorable night in Bengaluru.
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Kohli looked in sublime touch from the outset, showing no signs of rust despite stepping away from Tests and ODIs. He paced the chase expertly, rotating strike early before accelerating at the right moments, once again underlining his reputation as a master of run chases.
He found strong support from Devdutt Padikkal, who played a blistering knock of 61 off just 26 balls. Padikkal’s aggressive approach ensured RCB stayed ahead of the required rate, while captain Rajat Patidar chipped in with a quickfire 31 off 12 balls to keep the momentum going.
Earlier in the evening, SRH had posted 201 for nine after recovering from early setbacks. However, the total proved insufficient against a dominant RCB batting display.
Among those present in the stands were Smriti Mandhana, Shreyanka Patil and Jemimah Rodrigues, adding to the buzz around the season opener.
RCB’s bowlers had laid the platform earlier, with debutant Jacob Duffy impressing with figures of 3 for 22 in his four overs.
In the end, it was Kohli’s composed brilliance and a signature finish that ensured RCB began their IPL 2026 campaign in style.
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