Royal Challengers Bengaluru produced a commanding batting display to defeat Gujarat Titans by five wickets in Match 34 of the Indian Premier League 2026 at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru. Chasing a stiff target of 206, RCB reached 206/5 in just 18.5 overs to delight the home crowd and move up the points table.
After winning the toss and choosing to bowl first, RCB faced a strong Gujarat batting performance led by Sai Sudharsan. The stylish left-hander anchored the innings brilliantly and smashed a magnificent unbeaten century. He timed the ball beautifully all around the ground and kept the scoreboard moving with boundaries at regular intervals. Skipper Shubman Gill also provided valuable support at the top as GT built a solid platform.
Sudharsan accelerated in the death overs and ensured Gujarat crossed the 200-run mark. Despite disciplined bowling from RCB for most parts, GT managed to finish strongly on 205/3 in 20 overs. Bhuvneshwar Kumar and the Bengaluru attack bowled smart slower deliveries and yorkers in the middle overs, but the final flourish from Gujarat gave them momentum heading into the innings break.
In reply, RCB got an early lifeline when Virat Kohli was dropped in the opening over, and Gujarat paid heavily for that missed opportunity. Kohli looked in sublime touch from the start, mixing elegant drives with aggressive strokeplay. He found an ideal partner in Devdutt Padikkal, and the duo added a match-defining partnership that shifted the pressure completely onto GT.
Padikkal attacked the bowlers fearlessly and played one of his finest IPL knocks. His fluent half-century ensured the required run rate never became an issue. Kohli, meanwhile, anchored the chase with immense composure and punished anything loose. The experienced batter thrilled the Bengaluru crowd with yet another memorable innings in a chase.
Just when Gujarat hoped for a late comeback after a couple of wickets, Tim David and Krunal Pandya shut the door firmly. David played a quick cameo, while Krunal struck crucial boundaries in the closing stages. With six runs needed off the final over, Krunal calmly pulled Jason Holder for four and then took the winning single to complete the chase with seven balls remaining.
The victory once again highlighted RCB’s batting depth and ability to chase big totals under pressure. Kohli’s leadership with the bat, Padikkal’s fearless support, and finishing touches from David and Krunal made it a complete team effort. For Gujarat Titans, Sai Sudharsan’s sensational hundred went in vain despite being one of the finest knocks of the season.
This result also continued a fascinating trend between these two teams, with every meeting so far being won by the side batting second. RCB fans will now believe their defending champions are gathering momentum at just the right stage of the tournament.
