‘No words for Virat Kohli’: Rajat Patidar hails RCB star after emphatic win
Defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru launched their IPL 2026 title defence with a commanding six-wicket victory over Sunrisers Hyderabad. Virat Kohli's unbeaten 69 was the cornerstone of the chase, with skipper Rajat Patidar hailing him as the team's backbone. Debutant Jacob Duffy's early wickets also proved crucial in securing the win.
NEW DELHI: Defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru kicked off IPL 2026 in style, but skipper Rajat Patidar made it clear who stood at the heart of their dominant six-wicket win over Sunrisers Hyderabad — Virat Kohli. Chasing 202 at the M Chinnaswamy stadium, Kohli’s unbeaten 69 and Devdutt Padikkal’s explosive 61 powered RCB to victory with 26 balls to spare. Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel.
SUBSCRIBE NOW! Patidar didn’t hold back in his admiration, calling Kohli the backbone of any chase. “No words can describe Virat Kohli.
When he is in, the team is always in the chase. He is the No. 1 batter,” he said.
The RCB captain credited Kohli and Padikkal for laying the foundation of the chase, dismissing suggestions of a pre-set aggressive template. “Not a policy, we assessed the wicket and it was good. Padikkal’s and Kohli’s innings were the base,” he explained.