IPL 2026: RCB Chase Down 206 as Kohli, Padikkal Sink Gujarat Titans

A golden reprieve turned into a record-breaking rampage at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium on Friday night, as Royal Challengers Bengaluru chased down a target of 206 runs to defeat Gujarat Titans by five wickets with seven balls to spare, powered by a blistering knock from Virat Kohli (81 off 44 balls) and a stunning half-century from Devdutt Padikkal (55 off 27 balls).

Dropped on the very first ball of his innings by Washington Sundar for a duck, Kohli went on to script history, becoming the first player to reach 800 IPL fours and 300 sixes for a single franchise.

It was a moment that encapsulated the drama of the evening perfectly, a let-off that the opposition would rue for the rest of the night.

Padikkal, who played a pivotal role in anchoring the chase alongside Kohli, spoke warmly about the confidence the management has placed in him.

"It feels great. I have been working hard to get to where I'm. I think it's a lot to do with self-belief that the management has given me. And also I have made a few technical changes and now I'm getting the results," he said after the match.

Was the Kohli-Padikkal Partnership the True Game Changer in RCB's Chase?

Kohli, reflecting on the partnership that proved decisive, was generous in his praise of the young left-hander.

"We had to assess the conditions early on. We were only one partnership away," the former RCB captain said.

Kohli also credited the bowlers for laying the groundwork.

"Our bowlers did a magnificent job. The spinners were not able to get the grip. Once you get hold of conditions, you back yourself. The message was very clear. We had to go for it," he said, before emphasising the collective strength within the squad.

"We didn't have any doubts. We have guys who can hurt bowlers. We have the cricket smarts of Krunal. You can see in his bowling. The combination gives us a lot of confidence. We have the depth and confidence in the group. We were happy to play here, it's a special place to play cricket. It's been brilliant to play at home and win four games. It has been a great start," Kohli said.

RCB skipper Rajat Patidar was equally effusive about his team's performance.

"Many lessons were learned from the game. Bhuvi and Hazlewood started well, hitting their lengths and the other bowlers followed their lead. We knew anything around 200 was a good total to chase. In the last 3 overs, I thought our execution was spot-on, especially the yorkers," he said.

Earlier in the evening, Gujarat Titans had posted a formidable total, built largely on the back of Sai Sudharsan's sublime century, 100 off 58 balls.

However, a middle-overs stutter proved costly, as Gujarat failed to capitalise on a strong start.

How Costly Was Kohli's Drop on Nought for Gujarat Titans' Hopes Against RCB?

Titans skipper Shubman Gill acknowledged the turning point in the first innings.

"Yeah definitely. From 16th till 19th overs, those 3 overs we didn't get any boundaries and those were crucial for us. At the end of the powerplay we were in a good position but we were unable to take wickets," he said.

Gill also offered a philosophical take on the costly dropped catch that gave Kohli a lifeline.

"When a batsman gets dropped on nought, it's tough on the fielder, but it's important how you come back," he said, before adding, "We had our moments. I think they batted brilliantly in the middle-overs. When I was batting, when Krunal bowled, it was gripping and I wanted to take my chances."

With four wins from their home games this season, RCB look a well-settled, confident unit. For Gujarat Titans, the lessons of a night when 205 was simply not enough will linger.