IPL 2026: Kohli powers RCB to top as Hazlewood, Bhuvneshwar wreck LSG batters
Veteran bowlers Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Josh Hazlewood, alongside Rasikh Dar, spearheaded Royal Challengers Bengaluru's dominant bowling performance, bundling Lucknow Super Giants for 146 in Bengaluru. Despite a brief wobble, RCB secured a five-wicket victory, extending their unbeaten home run. Virat Kohli's quickfire 49 laid the foundation for the successful chase.
BENGALURU: The early phase of IPL has largely belonged to emerging talent and young turks. But the midweek fixture at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium here was different. It turned out to be a vintage Wednesday.
Two experienced exponents of the sport from Royal Challengers Bengaluru came out to show Lucknow Super Giants how the job is done. Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!
Two seasoned campaigners led the charge. The 36-year-old Bhuvneshwar Kumar (3/27) set the tone with a masterclass in swing bowling, exploiting movement early before nailing his yorkers at the death. At the other end, 35-year-old Josh Hazlewood (1/20) was relentless, operating on probing lengths that proved difficult to read.
On a spongy surface, RCB’s pacers — with Rasikh Dar (4/24) joining the party — used the short ball to unsettle the opposition before bundling LSG out for a modest 146. Chasing a below-par target, RCB did flirt with a wobble but eventually sealed a five-wicket win in 15. 1 overs, maintaining their unbeaten run at home this season.