In a thrilling encounter at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) chased down a challenging target of 198 set by Chennai Super Kings (CSK) with four balls to spare in the IPL 2026 match on Tuesday. The victory was powered by a masterful innings from Virat Kohli, who scored 82 off 48 balls, and a blistering cameo from Glenn Maxwell, who smashed 45 off just 22 deliveries.
Match Summary
CSK, after being put into bat, posted a formidable 197 for 4 in their 20 overs. Ruturaj Gaikwad led the way with a fluent 68 off 45 balls, while Shivam Dube added a quickfire 45 off 28. RCB's bowlers struggled to contain the flow of runs, with only Wanindu Hasaranga picking up two wickets.
In response, RCB lost an early wicket but Kohli and Maxwell steadied the ship with a 98-run partnership off 52 balls. Kohli's innings was a mix of elegant drives and powerful hits, while Maxwell's aggressive stroke play kept the required rate in check. The equation came down to 22 off the last two overs, and Dinesh Karthik finished the game with a six over deep midwicket off the penultimate ball.
Key Performances
- Virat Kohli: 82 runs off 48 balls, including 8 fours and 3 sixes.
- Glenn Maxwell: 45 runs off 22 balls, with 4 fours and 3 sixes.
- Ruturaj Gaikwad: 68 runs off 45 balls for CSK.
The win propels RCB to the top of the IPL 2026 points table, while CSK remains in second place. The two teams are set to face each other again in the return leg at Chepauk next week.
