In a breathtaking encounter at the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium in Raipur, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) secured a sensational victory over Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in Match 57 of IPL 2026.
Chasing a formidable target of 193, RCB relied on a masterclass from Virat Kohli, whose ninth IPL century propelled them to a dominant win and solidified their position at the top of the table.
KKR’s Competitive Total
Winning the toss and electing to bowl, RCB faced an aggressive KKR batting lineup. Despite losing Finn Allen and Ajinkya Rahane early to the pinpoint bowling of Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Josh Hazlewood, KKR found stability through Angkrish Raghuvanshi. Raghuvanshi played a standout innings of 71 runs off 46 balls, anchoring the middle order with poise.
The momentum shifted significantly in the later stages as Rinku Singh delivered a trademark explosive cameo, smashing 49* off just 29 deliveries. Aided by Cameron Green’s quick 32, KKR posted a challenging 192/4. RCB’s veteran pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar was the pick of the bowlers, finishing with 1/34 and restricting KKR from reaching a 200+ total in the final over.
The Kohli Masterclass
The chase was all about one man: Virat Kohli. Responding to recent critics after a brief dip in form, Kohli played with intent from the first ball. He forged a vital partnership with Devdutt Padikkal, who contributed a steady 39 runs before falling to Kartik Tyagi.
Kohli reached his 100 off just 58 balls, eventually finishing unbeaten on 105* (60 balls), an innings decorated with 11 fours and 3 sixes. Despite losing Rajat Patidar and Tim David in the closing stages to Sunil Narine and Kartik Tyagi, Kohli’s presence ensured there were no further hiccups. RCB crossed the finish line with 194/4 in 19.1 overs, completing a clinical victory.
READ THIS: GT vs SRH Match 56 Highlights: Gujarat Titans Secure Huge 82-Run Victory
Match Scorecard: KKR vs RCB (Match 57)
Kolkata Knight Riders Batting
| Batter | Status | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ajinkya Rahane (c) | c & b Hazlewood | 19 | 13 | 3 | 1 | 146.15 |
| Finn Allen | c Jitesh b Bhuvneshwar | 18 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 225.00 |
| Angkrish Raghuvanshi | Run out (Padikkal) | 71 | 46 | 7 | 3 | 154.35 |
| Cameron Green | b Rasikh Salam | 32 | 24 | 3 | 1 | 133.33 |
| Rinku Singh | Not Out | 49 | 29 | 3 | 2 | 168.97 |
| Total | (20.0 Overs) | 192/4 |
RCB Bowling
| Bowler | Overs | Runs | Wickets | Econ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bhuvneshwar Kumar | 4.0 | 34 | 1 | 8.50 |
| Josh Hazlewood | 4.0 | 35 | 1 | 8.75 |
| Rasikh Salam | 4.0 | 35 | 1 | 8.75 |
Royal Challengers Bengaluru Batting
| Batter | Status | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Virat Kohli | Not Out | 105 | 60 | 11 | 3 | 175.00 |
| Jacob Bethell | Not Out | 15 | 12 | 2 | 1 | 125.00 |
| Devdutt Padikkal | c Rahane b Tyagi | 39 | 27 | 7 | 0 | 144.44 |
| Rajat Patidar (c) | c Rahane b Narine | 11 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 137.50 |
| Tim David | c Pandey b Tyagi | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 66.67 |
| Total | (19.1 Overs) | 194/4 |
KKR Bowling
| Bowler | Overs | Runs | Wickets | Econ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kartik Tyagi | 4.0 | 32 | 2 | 8.00 |
| Sunil Narine | 4.0 | 31 | 1 | 7.75 |
Conclusion
The victory in Raipur was a statement of intent from the Royal Challengers Bengaluru. While KKR displayed resilience through Raghuvanshi and Rinku Singh, they simply had no answer for the technical brilliance of Virat Kohli. Kohli’s record-extending ninth century not only secured the two points but also reaffirmed his status as the ultimate chase-master in IPL history. With this win, RCB remains the team to beat as the 2026 season enters its final stages.
About The Author
