BENGALURU
Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) kicked off their title defense with an explosive warm-up match, giving fans a taste of the fireworks to come in IPL 2026. The defending champions displayed massive hitting power, with new face Jitesh Sharma and captain Rajat Patidar stealing the spotlight in a high-scoring contest.
Wicketkeeper-batter Jitesh Sharma was the star of the first innings, smashing a blistering 81 runs off just 37 balls. His aggressive play, supported by quick contributions from Tim David and Venkatesh Iyer, helped RCB post a daunting total of 234/7. Even superstar Virat Kohli joined the party, treated the crowd to a vintage cameo of 29 runs from only 12 deliveries.
The chase was equally thrilling. Captain Rajat Patidar led the opposition’s response with a sensational 74 off 25 balls, while Devdutt Padikkal and Krunal Pandya also crossed the half-century mark. The match ended with a narrow victory for the chasing side, who reached 247, proving that the team’s batting depth is deeper than ever.
Head coach Andy Flower praised the senior players for their form but was equally impressed by young bowlers like Abhinandan Singh and Rasikh Dar Salam. Krunal Pandya noted that Kohli’s timing looked “excellent,” a scary sign for rival teams. With their first official game against Sunrisers Hyderabad set for March 28, RCB looks perfectly prepared to hunt for back-to-back titles.
RCB stars shine in high scoring thriller
