Virat Kohli was the central talking point on Friday, not only because of his batting during Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s chase, but also for an on-field clash with Sunrisers Hyderabad batter Travis Head in Hyderabad. During the high-pressure pursuit of a 256-run target, tempers flared as Kohli exchanged words with Head, who simply smiled as the moment escalated. The exact trigger for the banter remained unclear, though Kohli had already struck a couple of fours before the incident surfaced. Kohli was dismissed for 11, and Bengaluru ultimately fell short, losing by 55 runs. Even so, RCB finished first in the IPL 2026 league standings, edging past SRH to claim the top spot.
Key takeaways
- Kohli and Travis Head had a heated moment during RCB’s chase in Hyderabad, with the altercation sparking visible tension on the field.
- RCB were chasing 256 but were unable to get there; Kohli made 11 before being dismissed.
- Sunrisers Hyderabad won by 55 runs, despite the result not changing their final league-position outcome.
- Royal Challengers Bengaluru finished at the top of the IPL 2026 league phase, ahead of Gujarat Titans and Sunrisers Hyderabad.
- RCB’s final chase ended at 200 for 4, while SRH posted 255 for 4.
Handshake controversy after the match
After the match, as the players lined up, Head approached Kohli with an offer of a handshake. The RCB star did not reciprocate and instead walked past, appearing to focus elsewhere rather than engaging with the Australian. Kohli shook hands with a player who came before Head in the line, and then continued his gestures with the next batter after Head, including Ishan Kishan, who followed him in the procession. Head, who is part of SRH’s opening group, was seen glancing at Kohli as he moved by.
There was also a wave of reaction online, with fans and cricket observers suggesting Kohli looked visibly upset after the incident and implying he may come out even more intense in the next game.
SRH set 255 for 4 as RCB miss out on the run chase
Sunrisers Hyderabad continued with their aggressive, high-tempo approach, and their batting delivered a heavy total. Even with the eventual 55-run win, the bigger story for Bengaluru was how close they were to reaching the required finish while also ensuring their league position remained intact. SRH amassed 255 for 4, powered by Abhishek Sharma’s powerful hitting, Ishan Kishan’s fearless batting style, and Heinrich Klaasen’s physical, forceful finishing.
For RCB, the primary objective was clear: they needed to reach 166 runs to be in the top two and secure two chances to qualify for the IPL final. Bengaluru achieved that target comfortably, despite losing the match by a sizeable margin. Their chase ended on 200 for 4, with the result still enough for them to finish above the rest of the league table.
League phase standings and how RCB secured the top spot
With the points distribution remaining level across the tournament’s final stretch, net run rate became the differentiator. RCB ended the league phase first with an NRR of +0.783. Gujarat Titans finished second with an NRR of +0.695, while SRH placed third at +0.524. All three clubs had 18 points apiece, meaning the standings ultimately hinged on the margins from their matches.
RCB’s chase: starts, acceleration, and the “magic figure”
The chase was always facing steep odds, but RCB still tried to build momentum early. Venkatesh Iyer provided the early impetus with a quick 44 off 19 balls. However, Kohli struggled to find rhythm, scoring 15 off 11 deliveries, while Devdutt Padikkal managed 21 off 14 balls before the innings settled into damage-control mode.
Once it became evident that Bengaluru could not overhaul the full target, they shifted attention to the “magic figure” needed for top-two qualification. Rajat Patidar (56 off 39 balls) and Krunal Pandya (41 not out off 31 balls) combined to forge an 84-run partnership. Patidar also struck a six over deep point off Pat Cummins, and that burst of scoring helped RCB maintain the chase’s momentum toward the required threshold.
Patidar was eventually dismissed at the team score of 178, which proved sufficient for RCB to finish first in the league phase. With that, Bengaluru’s campaign in the league stage concluded with the desired table-topping finish, even after the loss to SRH.
