RCB vs SRH

11:37 PM local time and IST: So, we are done with the first match of the season! And, it was some match, certainly for the batters, and one certain Jacob Duffy, who was truly the Player of the Match! But, it was great to see the Chinnaswamy Stadium come to life, the way it did today. Royal Challengers Bengaluru get on the board with 2 points and a net run rate of 2.907. The action now shifts to Mumbai, as Mumbai Indians host Kolkata Knight Riders tomorrow, from 7:30 PM local time. So, do join us, first thing tomorrow evening. This is the pair of Sourabh and Bidipto taking your leave tonight. Keep following Sportskeeda! 

Jacob Duffy (Player of the Match, 3/22 off 4 overs): "(First thoughts) Awesome! Bengaluru and RCB, brilliant! The new ball does a little bit here, and then, it gets tricky later for bowling. So, I just did what I had to...... (On being Josh Hazlewood's replacement) We talk a lot about lengths, and the best thing is that someone like Josh Hazlewood does exactly what I did, so, I simply followed him. I've also helped him stay warm a little more!....... (On how quickly he returned from a not-so-good T20 World Cup) The recent past for my country wasn't the best in terms of my bowling, but, thankfully, even on a ground like this, I managed to return with decent figures......... (On bowling 4 overs on the trot) Rajat just said to keep going, and that was the reason why I bowled all 4 overs. Didn't think too much!" 

Rajat Paridar (RCB captain): (Happy with the performance?) 100% satisfied with the way the boys played, everyone chipped in and it is a great sign. The way Duffy bowled in his first game and it was a turning point for us.

(Is it a policy with the bat to go all attack?) No, not a policy. We just assessed the wicket and it was good to bat on. The way Virat Kohli and Devudutt Padikkal batted

(on Virat Kohli) No words for him, everytime he does it for the team, he is number one in that regard

(the catches from Salt) That was a terrific catch by Salt, even I was surprised. I have seen him taking many catches in the air

(asked if his batting was Dhurandhar like) I was trying to make as much impact as possible, not the looks but just the impact

Virat Kohli (69 unbeaten runs off 38 balls): "(On coming back into the groove in the format) It was good to get back out there. You mentioned T20 cricket, yes the last game was last year. But, my ODI form helped me. I have worked hard on my fitness behind the scenes, and it's great that it's coming off. (On whether getting time off helps these days) Well, the amount of cricket we've played over the last 15 years, these kind of breaks only help me than keep me undercooked. I always come prepared, come out 120 percent! (On Devdutt Padikkal's knock) Outstanding knock! I had plans of going hard in the power play, but, Devdutt batted magnificently! When he started going, I told him not to stop. His balance, absolutely world-class! I've watched him from close quarters, he can only get better!" 

Ishan Kishan (SRH captain): (on their score of 200) The wicket played well after the first 3-4 overs. We lost a few early wickets, we have to take care of that the next time. The wicket got easier in the second innings. We will need to be smarter with our shot selection going forward

(thoughts on their bowling) You have got to give credit to their batters. Specially Virat bhai, you have got to get him out early specially in a run chase because he makes you pay if he is set

(how did he find captaincy?) I enjoyed that a lot but yes it is IPL, there are nerves sometimes. These mistakes are acceptable in the first game but if we win the games coming up ahead, it would be good for us

11:03 PM local time and IST: Royal Challengers Bengaluru win by 6 wickets with 26 balls to spare! 

Virat Kohli 69* (38) | Jacob Duffy - 3/22 (4)
Ishan Kishan 80 (38) | David Payne - 2/35 (3)

4000 runs in IPL chases for Virat Kohli. Finishing it off in style, like he only can! Rajat Patidar with an absolute blitzkrieg! Devdutt Padikkal with a breathtaking carnage! You need not say more. Well batted, Royal Challengers Bengaluru! 

When Phil Salt got out in the second over itself, Sunrisers Hyderabad thought that they have found the right sauce to their recipe of taking wickets. 

But Padikkal had other ideas. Yes the ball came on better in the 2nd innings, but, the left-hand bat stole the thunder by playing some incredible shots, almost effortlessly! Yes he took his chances, but he batted with a lot of confidence and backed himself. As they say, fortune favours the brave. A sublime half-century, and a fearless one! 

That stopped nothing, because if anything, it increased the damage for SRH! Rajat Patidar, the captain of the RCB, came out and smashed the bowling out of sight! In no time, he got to 31! His strike rate? A whopping 258.33! Spin or seam, Patidar was simply sensational! 

There came a moment when two wickets fell off two balls, with Jitesh Sharma missing out, it felt as though SRH were trying to forge a comeback. It looked like that for a bit, but, Tim David's firepower was just too hard to subdue towards the end. 

But who was the glue? Who shifted gears like only he can? Who managed to stay not out to see his side home? With 28 fifties at the Chinnaswamy Stadium, Virat Kohli managed to bat like a gentleman who knows what to do when, and how! 

In front of his beloved RCB fans, Kohli played some stunning strokes on all sides of the wicket, and held the innings together. 

In the end, it turned out to be as smooth a victory for the defending champions, as it could be! On the contrary, be it in the field, or, with the ball, SRH were off the boil, completely. 

Ishan's captaincy didn't click tonight, truth be told. He did not find ways to either slow the game down, or, be proactive. And of course, some of the selection in the bowling department, was slightly surprising from the team management. 

15.4 Harshal Patel to Virat Kohli, KOHLI FINISHES THE JOB WITH ANOTHER BOUNDARY AND RCB HAVE GOT OFF THE BLOCKS IN SOME FASHION IN FRONT OF THEIR BELOVED FANS! The defending champions win the season opener, they have decimated SRH as they register a thumping 6-wicket win with 26 balls to spare. This is like carrying on from 2025, this is what RCB fans have dreamt of over years and who is at the center stage again taking the team over the line? The same man, Virat Kohli who aces yet another run chase finishing on 69* off 38 and he made it look so easy tonight. The last ball was a slow and short one outside off, Kohli just sliced it over short third man and sealed the deal for the defending champions.

15.3 Harshal Patel to Virat Kohli, OVER THE OFF SIDE, just 3 needed now! Kohli does it again, went leg side the previous ball and now he makes room on the leg side and slaps one over covers to get another delivery to the fence.

15.2 Harshal Patel to Virat Kohli, FOUR MORE, this time it was the short ball at the leg stump, he swivels on it and helps it over the keeper's left for another boundary

15.1 Harshal Patel to Virat Kohli, STAND AND DELIVER! Kohli is throwing a party at Chinnaswamy tonight. 128 clicks, harmless slot delivery from Harshal, Kohli just picks the bones out of that one and smokes it over long-on

Harshal Patel [2.0-0-21-0] comes back into the attack.

Alright RCB, the momentum is won back. Now, look to finish it next over, if you can. The IPL can be a funny tournament, when you least expect it! Get the NRR as high as possible right here.