Kohli and Padikkal Power RCB Past GT as Sudharsan’s Century Goes in Favour of Hosts

Sai Sudharsan’s first IPL century of the campaign proved bittersweet as Royal Challengers Bengaluru thrashed Gujarat Titans by five wickets in a chase of 206, sealing the run hunt with seven balls remaining and climbing to the second spot on the IPL 2026 points table. Virat Kohli and Devdutt Padikkal powered the pursuit with a 117-run partnership for the second wicket, and though RCB briefly lost momentum, they regained control and finished the job comfortably.

Match highlights and scoreline

Gujarat Titans posted 205/3 in their 20 overs, with Sudharsan striking 100 off 58 balls and Jason Holder contributing 23 off 10. Bhuvneshwar Kumar picked up figures of 1/31. RCB replied with 206/5 in 18.5 overs, driven by Kohli’s 81 off 44 and Padikkal’s 55 off 27. Rashid Khan returned 2/49 and Manav Suthar 1/19, but RCB overhauled the target by five wickets.

How Gujarat Titans set up 206

1. On a pitch that started sticky and behaved like it was two-paced, Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan protected the scoring flow even as the latter faced the majority of deliveries, taking 29 of the 36 balls early on.
2. After a couple of quieter overs, Sudharsan began to punish the hard lengths delivered by the RCB pace attack, accelerating the innings.
3. The pair struck 57 runs in the Powerplay and kept the momentum moving through the partnership, rotating the strike while Sudharsan attacked any width that came his way.
4. Gill, who spent much of the time at the non-striker’s end, mostly kept the run rate ticking, but Sudharsan remained the dominant batter, capitalising on loose deliveries.
5. They built a 130-run stand before Gill’s dismissal in the 13th over as he went for a big hit.
6. Gujarat maintained the charge in the death overs, with Jos Buttler taking on Suyash Sharma during the 15th over.
7. Sudharsan reached his century in that over, but was then dismissed in the very next session, mistiming a pull against Josh Hazlewood.
8. Buttler and Washington Sundar provided the surge needed late in the innings, while RCB’s bowlers clawed back momentum after an initial period of resistance from Gujarat.
9. During the first three death overs, RCB conceded only 17 runs, helping swing the contest back towards Bengaluru.
10. With Rasikh Salam forced off the field due to cramps, Krunal Pandya had to bowl the final over, and Jason Holder then took charge, smashing a slingy bouncer and a tossed-up delivery for sixes to take Gujarat past the 200-run mark with 20 runs in the last over.

RCB’s chase: Kohli and Padikkal in control

1. RCB’s pursuit could have swung early, with Jacob Bethell cut short for 14 off 10 balls and Virat Kohli dropped on zero.
2. Given that reprieve, Kohli seized control in the Powerplay, asserting himself against the Gujarat Titans’ fast-bowling group.
3. In partnership with Padikkal, Kohli helped RCB post 58 runs in the Powerplay, setting a strong platform for the chase.
4. Kohli’s innings reflected the classic, authoritative version of his batting: he drove and whipped the ball with ease and authority, showing clear command against Kagiso Rabada.
5. He used his feet effectively against Rashid and was willing to take on short deliveries when Prasidh Krishna tested him, moving into space on the off side to find boundaries.
6. Kohli’s stay ended at 81, when he inside-edged a rising Jason Holder ball onto his stumps.
7. Padikkal continued the momentum, carrying forward the form he has shown over the past year by starting with a six off Kagiso Rabada over deep backward square.
8. He then attacked the bowlers as they came, pulling Prasidh Krishna’s bounce and pace for boundaries and hitting Rashid Khan inside out for a six over deep extra cover.
9. Even on a wicket that looked more comfortable early in the chase, Padikkal varied his strokeplay and reached a half-century in just 20 balls.
10. His innings ended in the 13th over when a Rashid googly deceived him and he was stumped.
11. After Kohli and Padikkal’s departure, the chase looked like it could turn, but Rajat Patidar briefly steadied things with a six off Rashid Khan.
12. From there, Gujarat’s spinners tightened the screws: Jitesh Sharma mistimed a cut to point, while Patidar edged one when trying to hit Manav Suthar against the turn.
13. Although Tim David’s attempt appeared to send an edge past the fielder at third, the pressure did not fully escape RCB, and Krunal Pandya’s quickfire cameo of 23 helped counter Gujarat’s fielding and keep the chase on track.

What next for both sides

Gujarat Titans are set to be back in action soon, travelling to Chennai for an afternoon match on Sunday, April 26. Royal Challengers Bengaluru will head to Delhi to face Delhi Capitals on Monday, April 27.