Bengaluru, 06 April (H.S.):
Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) delivered a commanding 43-run triumph over Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in IPL 2026, powered by blistering batting and sharp bowling at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium.
Batting first, RCB amassed a colossal 250/3—the highest total of the season and against CSK in IPL history—with Tim David (70*), Devdutt Padikkal (50), and Rajat Patidar (48*) leading the charge. Padikkal anchored the innings with his second successive half-century, while David and Patidar forged an unbroken 99-run stand off 35 balls in the death overs, with David blasting his fifty off 21 deliveries.
CSK faltered in the chase, crumbling to 207 all out after losing early wickets. Sarfaraz Khan (50) and Prashant Veer (43) fought back, alongside Jamie Overton's gritty 37, but it proved insufficient against RCB's attack.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar starred with 3/41, reaching 200 IPL wickets, supported by Jacob Duffy, Abhinandan Singh, and Krunal Pandya's two wickets each. This win marks RCB's first four straight victories over CSK in IPL history, signaling the defending champions' title defense intent.
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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar
