BENGALURU: Under the bright floodlights of the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Royal Challengers Bengaluru delivered a commanding performance in their final league-stage home game. Chasing a challenging target of 206, the defending champions relied on a vintage partnership between Virat Kohli (81) and Devdutt Padikkal (55) to secure a composed five-wicket victory over the Gujarat Titans. The home side achieved the target with seven balls remaining, rendering Sai Sudharsan's magnificent century a mere footnote in a contest dominated by the batters.
Early Breakthrough Sets the Tone
The chase began with a crucial reprieve that proved decisive. Kohli, yet to open his account, was dropped by Washington Sundar in the first over. The seasoned star capitalised immediately, punishing the Titans for the lapse. He struck crisp boundaries off Kagiso Rabada, while Padikkal, after Jacob Bethell's early dismissal to Mohammed Siraj, settled in seamlessly and injected fluency into the innings. The duo ensured RCB ended the Powerplay at 58/1, laying a solid foundation for the chase.
Middle Overs Domination
If the early exchanges set the tone, the middle overs firmly tilted the game in RCB's favour. Kohli blended control with aggression, reaching his half-century off 30 balls and also hitting his 300th IPL six with a towering strike off Rashid Khan. At the other end, Padikkal was equally fluent, racing to a fifty off just 20 deliveries and punishing anything loose. Their 115-run partnership off 59 balls all but broke the back of the chase, taking RCB past the 100-mark in under nine overs and leaving the Titans searching for answers.
Padikkal's departure off Rashid's bowling briefly offered GT a glimmer, and Kohli's dismissal for a superb 81 off 44 balls — an innings featuring eight fours and four sixes — gave the visitors a flicker of hope. However, by then, the equation had eased considerably. Rajat Patidar contributed just eight runs as RCB lost a couple of wickets in a brief stutter, but Tim David (10 not out) and Krunal Pandya (23 not out) ensured there would be no late drama.
Sai Sudharsan's Century in Vain
Earlier, the Titans rode a brilliant century from Sai Sudharsan to post 205/3 after RCB opted to bowl. The left-hander, rediscovering his touch after a lean patch, anchored the innings with 100 off 58 balls, laced with 11 fours and five sixes. RCB's new-ball pair of Bhuvneshwar Kumar (1/31) and Josh Hazlewood (1/40) tested him early, but Sudharsan settled quickly, reaching 46 in the powerplay as GT made 57 without loss in six overs.
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