The Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) cemented their position near the top of the TATA IPL 2026 points table with a commanding five-wicket victory over the Gujarat Titans (GT) in Match 34 at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium. Chasing a daunting 206, the defending champions rode on a spectacular 115-run partnership between Virat Kohli and Devdutt Padikkal to overhaul the target with seven deliveries to spare. The match served as a classic reminder of how a single fielding lapse can dictate the outcome of a T20 contest, as Kohli, dropped on the very first ball he faced, anchored the chase with a flawless, match-winning 81.

Clinical at home...Again! ❤️@RCBTweets jump to 2⃣nd spot on the points table with another win in front of a roaring Bengaluru crowd 🥳

Scorecard ▶️ https://t.co/5ZJjfv5Nr6#TATAIPL | #KhelBindaas | #RCBvGT | @RCBTweets pic.twitter.com/pYTwF4yzbo

— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) April 24, 2026

After RCB captain Rajat Patidar won the toss and opted to bowl first, the Gujarat Titans constructed a formidable total centred entirely around Sai Sudharsan. Shaking off a string of relatively quiet performances, the 24-year-old left-hander returned to his scintillating best, pacing his innings to perfection.

Sudharsan and captain Shubman Gill established a solid foundation, accumulating a massive 128-run opening stand that neutralised the early threat of Josh Hazlewood and Bhuvneshwar Kumar. While Gill played the steady anchor, eventually falling for 32 off 24 deliveries to Suyash Sharma (1 for 36), Sudharsan aggressively took on the spinners in the middle overs. He blazed his way to a brilliant 100 off just 58 balls, an innings adorned with 11 boundaries and five massive sixes. During this spectacular knock, Sudharsan also breached the 2000-run mark in the IPL, becoming the fastest player to reach the milestone (47 innings) by breaking Chris Gayle's record.

In full flow! 🤌

🎥 Sai Sudharsan has been toying with the bowling tonight 🔥

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Following Sudharsan’s departure, the Titans maintained their momentum in the death overs. Jos Buttler chipped in with a brisk 25 off 16, but it was Jason Holder who provided the ultimate finishing fireworks. The West Indian all-rounder smashed an unbeaten 23 off merely 10 deliveries (operating at a strike rate of 230.00), lifting GT to an imposing 205 for 3. On a traditional batting paradise, veteran Bhuvneshwar Kumar was the standout bowler for RCB, utilising his variations perfectly to return highly economical figures of 1 for 31 in his four overs.

Defending 205 at the Chinnaswamy demands early breakthroughs, and the Titans nearly secured the biggest one possible. On his very first ball of the chase, Virat Kohli offered a regulation chance, but Washington Sundar put down the catch. This early reprieve proved to be the definitive turning point of the match. Given a massive lifeline on zero, Kohli immediately shifted gears, punishing the GT bowling attack and ensuring the required run rate never spiralled out of control.

Capitalising heavily on the Powerplay, Kohli (81 off 44 balls) set the tempo with eight boundaries and four sixes, striking at an impressive 184.09. However, the true momentum shift arrived off the bat of Devdutt Padikkal. Batting at number three, Padikkal unleashed absolute carnage, bringing up his half-century in just 20 deliveries.

𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝗘𝗫𝗘𝗖𝗨𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡! 🔥🫡

🎥 How good were those hits from Devdutt Padikkal and Virat Kohli 🙇

Updates ▶️ https://t.co/5ZJjfv5Nr6#TATAIPL | #KhelBindaas | #RCBvGT | @RCBTweets pic.twitter.com/NFCxyDupTU

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Padikkal's 55 off 27 balls was heavily dominated by the aerial route, featuring six towering maximums and just two fours. Together, Kohli and Padikkal forged a blistering 115-run stand in just 59 deliveries, completely shifting the pressure onto the Gujarat spinners. Rashid Khan struggled to find his usual control against the assault, eventually conceding 49 runs in his four overs, although he did manage to remove Padikkal to break the dangerous partnership.

Set batters gone 😯

🎥 Rashid Khan and Jason Holder hit the timber \|/

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A brief middle-over stutter opened the door slightly for the Titans. Alongside Kohli and Padikkal's departures, Rashid Khan removed Jitesh Sharma (10 off 6), and young spinner Manav Suthar (1 for 19) bowled a tight spell to induce some panic in the RCB dugout.

However, Bengaluru’s batting depth shone through. Krunal Pandya stepped up in the crunch moments, delivering a composed, aggressive finish to ensure there were no late hiccups. Pandya hammered an unbeaten 23 off just 12 balls (3 fours, 1 six), operating at a strike rate of 191.67. He sealed the chase comfortably alongside Tim David (10* off 9), taking RCB to 206 for 5 in 18.5 overs.

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