Jacob Bethell’s IPL 2026 outing for Royal Challengers Bengaluru in Raipur against Kolkata Knight Riders produced an unexpected twist after his dismissal, as a dropped gold chain momentarily stole the spotlight before the focus swung back to the chase. The left-hander fell to Kartik Tyagi, and in the brief scramble that followed, Bethell’s jewellery ended up on the pitch—only for the next batter, Devdutt Padikkal, to spot it, retrieve it, and hand it back safely.
Raipur incident: Bethell’s chain and Tyagi’s strike
Tyagi set up Bethell with a sharp short delivery, catching the opener out as he went for a pull. The attempt resulted in a top edge that carried to the helmet area, the ball popping up for an easy catch back to the bowler. As players reacted, Bethell walked away without noticing his gold chain had slipped to the ground.
That small lapse quickly turned into a moment of good awareness from Padikkal. With the chain lying on the pitch, the Bengaluru batter who came in next noticed it, picked it up, and returned it to Bethell after the dismissal.
KKR’s innings and Bengaluru’s chase target
Earlier in the contest, Kolkata Knight Riders reached 192/4, building their total around key contributions at different stages. Angkrish Raghuvanshi led the charge with a strong 71, while Rinku Singh finished with an unbeaten 49 to provide late momentum.
Cameron Green also contributed with 32 as KKR set the target. For Bengaluru, Kartik Tyagi was the standout performer, taking 3/32, but the wicket haul still wasn’t enough to derail RCB’s pursuit.
Kohli’s form returns as RCB chase 193
Chasing 193, Virat Kohli put Bengaluru in control with a match-defining innings that ended with him remaining unbeaten. The run-getter struck 105 off 60 balls, including 11 fours and three sixes, guiding RCB to a six-wicket win with five balls left in the game.
- RCB’s chase: 193 was reached in 5 balls remaining, finishing on 6 wickets down.
- Kohli’s unbeaten knock: 105 not out from 60 deliveries, with 11 fours and three maximums.
- Key partnership: Kohli and Devdutt Padikkal combined for a 92-run stand.
- Padikkal’s contribution: 39 to help steady the chase after Bethell’s early exit.
Table impact and match outcome
The result pushed Royal Challengers Bengaluru to the summit of the IPL 2026 standings, lifting them to the top with 16 points. They moved ahead of Gujarat Titans on net run rate, sealing a victory that blended a dramatic personal moment for Bethell with a dominant return to form from Kohli.
