Star Indian batter Virat Kohli on Saturday (Mar 28) entered the record books by becoming the highest run-scorer among Asian players in T20 cricket. He surpassed Shoaib Malik during the IPL 2026 opener between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Sunrisers Hyderabad at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium. Chasing 202, Kohli went past Malik’s tally of 13,571 runs with a single in the eighth over, reaching the feat in just 415 matches, significantly quicker than Malik, who took 557 games. With this milestone, Kohli now sits sixth among the highest run-getters in T20 history, behind Chris Gayle (14,562), Kieron Pollard (14,482), Alex Hales (14,449), David Warner (14,063) and Jos Buttler (13,845).&nbsp;&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2026-here-s-all-you-need-to-know-about-rr-vs-csk-match-no-3-timing-squad-h2h-more-1774757455786">IPL 2026: Here's all you need to know about RR vs CSK match no 3 timing, squad, H2H &amp; more</a>&nbsp;The record came during another fluent knock from Kohli, who remained unbeaten on 69 off 38 balls, striking five boundaries and five sixes to guide Bengaluru to a convincing six-wicket win.&nbsp;&nbsp;Speaking after the match, Kohli pointed to the benefits of managing his schedule, saying that taking breaks has helped him stay mentally refreshed and fully prepared whenever he returns to action.&nbsp;&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/-it-s-a-waiting-game-at-the-moment-kkr-on-matheesha-pathirana-s-ipl-2026-availability-1774751570849">'It's a waiting game at the moment': KKR on Matheesha Pathirana's IPL 2026 availability</a>&nbsp;“Whenever I come back to play, it’s 120%. I’m not coming back underprepared… the extra rest helps me mentally freshen up,” he said.&nbsp;Reflecting on his long career, the 37-year-old added, “There was always a risk of getting burnt out rather than being undercooked… these breaks help me stay fresh and excited.”<h2>Batters with most runs in T20 cricket</h2><ul><li>Chris Gayle (West Indies) - 14,562 runs in 463 matches</li><li>Kieron Pollard (West Indies) - 14,482 runs in 735 matches</li><li>Alex Hales (England) - 14,449 runs in 528 matches</li><li>David Warner (Australia) - 14,063 runs in 433 matches</li><li>Jos Buttler (England) - 13,845 runs in 493 matches</li><li>Virat Kohli (India) - 13,612 runs in 415 matches</li></ul>

The record came during another fluent knock from Kohli, who remained unbeaten on 69 off 38 balls, striking five boundaries and five sixes to guide Bengaluru to a convincing six-wicket win. 

Star Indian batter Virat Kohli on Saturday (Mar 28) entered the record books by becoming the highest run-scorer among Asian players in T20 cricket. He surpassed Shoaib Malik during the IPL 2026 opener between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Sunrisers Hyderabad at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium. Chasing 202, Kohli went past Malik’s tally of 13,571 runs with a single in the eighth over, reaching the feat in just 415 matches, significantly quicker than Malik, who took 557 games. With this milestone, Kohli now sits sixth among the highest run-getters in T20 history, behind Chris Gayle (14,562), Kieron Pollard (14,482), Alex Hales (14,449), David Warner (14,063) and Jos Buttler (13,845). Also Read - IPL 2026: Here's all you need to know about RR vs CSK match no 3 timing, squad, H2H & more The record came during another fluent knock from Kohli, who remained unbeaten on 69 off 38 balls, striking five boundaries and five sixes to guide Bengaluru to a convincing six-wicket win. Speaking after the match, Kohli pointed to the benefits of managing his schedule, saying that taking breaks has helped him stay mentally refreshed and fully prepared whenever he returns to action. Also Read - 'It's a waiting game at the moment': KKR on Matheesha Pathirana's IPL 2026 availability “Whenever I come back to play, it’s 120%. I’m not coming back underprepared… the extra rest helps me mentally freshen up,” he said. Reflecting on his long career, the 37-year-old added, “There was always a risk of getting burnt out rather than being undercooked… these breaks help me stay fresh and excited.” Batters with most runs in T20 cricket Chris Gayle (West Indies) - 14,562 runs in 463 matches Kieron Pollard (West Indies) - 14,482 runs in 735 matches Alex Hales (England) - 14,449 runs in 528 matches David Warner (Australia) - 14,063 runs in 433 matches Jos Buttler (England) - 13,845 runs in 493 matches Virat Kohli (India) - 13,612 runs in 415 matches

The record came during another fluent knock from Kohli, who remained unbeaten on 69 off 38 balls, striking five boundaries and five sixes to guide Bengaluru to a convincing six-wicket win.&nbsp;

IPL 2026: Virat Kohli scripts history, becomes Asia’s top T20 run-scorer

Defending Indian Premier League (IPL) champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) made a winning start to the season as they beat SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) by six wickets in the curtain-raiser contest. Playing at the M.Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, Devdutt Padikkal and Virat Kohli were the star men as RCB successfully chased 202 runs in the opening match. Virat scored an unbeaten 69 while Padikkal smashed 61 off 26 to help RCB get off to a winning start.<h2>RCB make winning start</h2>RCB's chase began with a couple of boundaries in the first over off the bat of Phil Salt, but he fell early, in the very next over, for eight runs. However, Kohli looked in sublime touch from the first ball. He anchored the innings with a brilliant 69 off 38 deliveries, including five sixes. He became the first batter to score 6000 runs in the T20s. Kohli also became the first batter in IPL history to cross 4000 runs in chases.&nbsp;However, it was Devdutt Padikkal who stole the show in the middle overs. Padikkal played with a strike rate of 234.62, bludgeoning 61 runs off just 26 balls, including four sixes and seven fours. His assault on the SRH spinners took the game away from the visitors entirely. Brief cameos from Rajat Patidar (31 off 12) and Tim David (16) ensured there were no late hiccups as RCB cruised to 203/4 in just 15.4 overs.&nbsp;Earlier in the match, Sunrisers Hyderabad staged a strong recovery from an early collapse to post a competitive 201/9. After losing three quick wickets in the power play, a brilliant knock from Ishan Kishan and key contributions down the order powered Hyderabad past the 200-run mark. The defending champions were off to a fantastic start, with debutant and RCB speedster Jacob Duffy removing Hyderabad openers for a cheap score.&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-cameron-green-to-liam-livingstone-5-most-expensive-players-in-ipl-2026-auctions-matheesha-pathirana-kartik-sharma-prashant-veer-1774031148132">From Cameron Green to Liam Livingstone, 5 most expensive players in IPL 2026 auctions</a>&nbsp;Sunrisers lost Abhishek Sharma during the first ball of the third over. The left-handed batter scored seven runs. On the last delivery, Duffy then removed Travis Head for just 11 runs as the visitors scored 23 runs. Sunrisers lost their wicket when debutant Duffy dismissed all-rounder Nitish Reddy for just one run during the second ball of the fifth over. After the end of the sixth over, Hyderbad scored 49/3.&nbsp;Stand-in skipper Ishan Kishan and wicketkeeper-batter Heinrich Klaasen stabilised the ship for Hyderabad as they reached 70/3 in eight overs. Hyderabad reached a decent position after 10 overs, as they scored 87/3.&nbsp;All-rounder Romario Shepherd broke the dangerous 97-run stand between Klaasen and Kishan after the wicketkeeper-batter departed for 31 runs during the first ball of the 14th over.In the very next over, leg-spinner Suyash Sharma took the wicket of Salil Arora, who made nine runs as Sunrisers reached 142/5. During the last ball of the 16th over, he took the much-needed wicket of Ishan Kishan, who departed after playing a fantastic knock of 80 runs off 38 deliveries, including eight fours and five sixes.&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-rohit-sharma-to-sanju-samson-5-highest-individual-score-in-a-lost-chase-in-ipl-yusuf-pathan-kl-rahul-shaun-marsh-ipl-2026-1774084136030">From Rohit Sharma to Sanju Samson, 5 highest individual scores in a lost chase in IPL</a>&nbsp;Hyderabad lost two more wickets after Shepherd dismissed Harsh Dubey for just three runs and Bhuvneshwar Kumar scalped the wicket of Harshal Patel, who departed after scoring a two-ball duck. Hyderabad reached 175/8 after the end of the 18th over. During the 19th over, Aniket Verma hammered two sixes and a four before Romario took revenge and removed Verma. The right-handed batter played a blistering knock of 18-ball 43, including three fours and four maximums. Towards the end, Sunrisers crossed the 200-run mark as they finished at 201/9 in 20 overs.

Playing at the M.Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, Devdutt Padikkal and Virat Kohli were the star men as RCB successfully chased 202 runs in the opening match. Virat scored an unbeaten 69 while Padikkal smashed 61 off 26 to help RCB get off to a winning start.

Defending Indian Premier League (IPL) champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) made a winning start to the season as they beat SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) by six wickets in the curtain-raiser contest. Playing at the M.Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, Devdutt Padikkal and Virat Kohli were the star men as RCB successfully chased 202 runs in the opening match. Virat scored an unbeaten 69 while Padikkal smashed 61 off 26 to help RCB get off to a winning start. RCB make winning start RCB's chase began with a couple of boundaries in the first over off the bat of Phil Salt, but he fell early, in the very next over, for eight runs. However, Kohli looked in sublime touch from the first ball. He anchored the innings with a brilliant 69 off 38 deliveries, including five sixes. He became the first batter to score 6000 runs in the T20s. Kohli also became the first batter in IPL history to cross 4000 runs in chases. However, it was Devdutt Padikkal who stole the show in the middle overs. Padikkal played with a strike rate of 234.62, bludgeoning 61 runs off just 26 balls, including four sixes and seven fours. His assault on the SRH spinners took the game away from the visitors entirely. Brief cameos from Rajat Patidar (31 off 12) and Tim David (16) ensured there were no late hiccups as RCB cruised to 203/4 in just 15.4 overs. Earlier in the match, Sunrisers Hyderabad staged a strong recovery from an early collapse to post a competitive 201/9. After losing three quick wickets in the power play, a brilliant knock from Ishan Kishan and key contributions down the order powered Hyderabad past the 200-run mark. The defending champions were off to a fantastic start, with debutant and RCB speedster Jacob Duffy removing Hyderabad openers for a cheap score. ALSO READ | From Cameron Green to Liam Livingstone, 5 most expensive players in IPL 2026 auctions Sunrisers lost Abhishek Sharma during the first ball of the third over. The left-handed batter scored seven runs. On the last delivery, Duffy then removed Travis Head for just 11 runs as the visitors scored 23 runs. Sunrisers lost their wicket when debutant Duffy dismissed all-rounder Nitish Reddy for just one run during the second ball of the fifth over. After the end of the sixth over, Hyderbad scored 49/3. Stand-in skipper Ishan Kishan and wicketkeeper-batter Heinrich Klaasen stabilised the ship for Hyderabad as they reached 70/3 in eight overs. Hyderabad reached a decent position after 10 overs, as they scored 87/3. All-rounder Romario Shepherd broke the dangerous 97-run stand between Klaasen and Kishan after the wicketkeeper-batter departed for 31 runs during the first ball of the 14th over.In the very next over, leg-spinner Suyash Sharma took the wicket of Salil Arora, who made nine runs as Sunrisers reached 142/5. During the last ball of the 16th over, he took the much-needed wicket of Ishan Kishan, who departed after playing a fantastic knock of 80 runs off 38 deliveries, including eight fours and five sixes. ALSO READ | From Rohit Sharma to Sanju Samson, 5 highest individual scores in a lost chase in IPL Hyderabad lost two more wickets after Shepherd dismissed Harsh Dubey for just three runs and Bhuvneshwar Kumar scalped the wicket of Harshal Patel, who departed after scoring a two-ball duck. Hyderabad reached 175/8 after the end of the 18th over. During the 19th over, Aniket Verma hammered two sixes and a four before Romario took revenge and removed Verma. The right-handed batter played a blistering knock of 18-ball 43, including three fours and four maximums. Towards the end, Sunrisers crossed the 200-run mark as they finished at 201/9 in 20 overs.

Playing at the M.Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, Devdutt Padikkal and Virat Kohli were the star men as RCB successfully chased 202 runs in the opening match. Virat scored an unbeaten 69 while Padikkal smashed 61 off 26 to help RCB get off to a winning start.

IPL 2026: RCB start on winning note as Devdutt Padikkal, Virat Kohli make lightwork of SRH in curtain-raiser

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) paid a heartwarming tribute to the eleven victims of the 4 June 2025 stampede in their Indian Premier League (IPL 2026) opener on Saturday (Mar 28). Playing at the M.Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, RCB kept 11 seats reserved for all the 11 victims from the tragedy that took place a day after RCB won their maiden IPL title in Ahmedabad. All players from the RCB Playing XI were also seen donning the No.11 jersey before the match started.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">In the memory of our 11 dear fans. 🙏 Etched into Chinnaswamy, forever part of our RCB family. ♥️<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PlayBold?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PlayBold</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/%E0%B2%A8%E0%B2%AE%E0%B3%8D%E0%B2%AERCB?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ನಮ್ಮRCB</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IPL2026?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#IPL2026</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RCBvSRH?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RCBvSRH</a> <a href="https://t.co/8nhpmWVZ4e">pic.twitter.com/8nhpmWVZ4e</a>&mdash; Royal Challengers Bengaluru (@RCBTweets) <a href="https://twitter.com/RCBTweets/status/2037883531532382699?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 28, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<h2>RCB pay tribute to stampede victims</h2>Ahead of the IPL 2026 opener, players from both RCB and SRH also observed a one-minute silence to pay tribute to the fans who lost their lives in 2025. For the unversed, 11 fans died, and several were injured in the stampede caused outside the stadium during the victory celebrations following RCB's first IPL title win. Cricket at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium had been suspended since June 2025.&nbsp;During the tournament opener against the Hyderabad-based franchise, the defending champions, RCB, are also wearing black armbands. A statement from RCB said, "Royal Challengers Bengaluru will pay tribute to the eleven members of the RCB family who tragically lost their lives in the unfortunate incident on June 4."&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-rohit-sharma-to-sanju-samson-5-highest-individual-score-in-a-lost-chase-in-ipl-yusuf-pathan-kl-rahul-shaun-marsh-ipl-2026-1774084136030">From Rohit Sharma to Sanju Samson, 5 highest individual scores in a lost chase in IPL</a>&nbsp;"As a mark of respect, players will wear practice jerseys bearing the number 11 during the warm-up, followed by black armbands during the match."&nbsp;"In a lasting gesture of remembrance, eleven seats at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium will remain unoccupied, serving as a permanent tribute to the fans whose unwavering support will always be a part of the RCB family," the statement concluded.&nbsp;Meanwhile, Bengaluru won the toss and decided to field against the SRH in the tournament opener at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium. At 27 years and 253 days, Ishan Kishan, who is the stand-in captain of the Sunrisers, became the franchise's second-youngest skipper, behind Kane Williamson (27y, 244d) in 2018.&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-cameron-green-to-liam-livingstone-5-most-expensive-players-in-ipl-2026-auctions-matheesha-pathirana-kartik-sharma-prashant-veer-1774031148132">From Cameron Green to Liam Livingstone, 5 most expensive players in IPL 2026 auctions</a><h2>Playing XI of both teams</h2>Sunrisers Hyderabad (Playing XI): Abhishek Sharma, Travis Head, Ishan Kishan(w/c), Heinrich Klaasen, Aniket Verma, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Salil Arora, Harsh Dubey, Harshal Patel, Jaydev Unadkat, Eshan Malinga.&nbsp;Royal Challengers Bengaluru (Playing XI): Virat Kohli, Philip Salt, Rajat Patidar(c), Jitesh Sharma(w), Tim David, Romario Shepherd, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Abhinandan Singh, Jacob Duffy, Suyash Sharma

Playing at the M.Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, RCB kept 11 seats reserved for all the 11 victims from the tragedy that took place a day after RCB won their maiden IPL title in Ahmedabad.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) paid a heartwarming tribute to the eleven victims of the 4 June 2025 stampede in their Indian Premier League (IPL 2026) opener on Saturday (Mar 28). Playing at the M.Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, RCB kept 11 seats reserved for all the 11 victims from the tragedy that took place a day after RCB won their maiden IPL title in Ahmedabad. All players from the RCB Playing XI were also seen donning the No.11 jersey before the match started.

Playing at the M.Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, RCB kept 11 seats reserved for all the 11 victims from the tragedy that took place a day after RCB won their maiden IPL title in Ahmedabad.

Watch: RCB pay tribute to June 4 stampede victims in IPL 2026 opener vs SRH

The Indian Premier League (IPL 2026) season is all set to start on Saturday (Mar 29) as Royal Challengers Benglauru (RCB) take on SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) at the iconic M.Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. IPL 2026 will be the first time RCB will walk out as the defending champions, having won the title in 2025. So ahead of the key clash, here are all the details of the opening match, including match timing, squad, live streaming and more.<h2>Is there an opening ceremony for the IPL 2026?</h2>No. There will be no opening ceremony for the IPL 2026 match as the organisers scrapped the showpiece to pay tribute to the victims of the victory parade that took place on 4 June 2025.<h2>What is the head-to-head record for the RCB vs SRH clash in IPL history?</h2>Not much separates both RCB and SRH in overall head-to-head records, with the hosts of Saturday’s match winning 11 while Hyderabad have won 13 in 26 previous meetings. Two matches have ended without results.<h2>What is the venue for the RCB vs SRH IPL 2026 opening match?</h2>The M.Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru will be the venue for the RCB vs SRH IPL 2026 opening match.&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-rohit-sharma-to-sanju-samson-5-highest-individual-score-in-a-lost-chase-in-ipl-yusuf-pathan-kl-rahul-shaun-marsh-ipl-2026-1774084136030">From Rohit Sharma to Sanju Samson, 5 highest individual scores in a lost chase in IPL</a><h2>When will the RCB vs SRH IPL 2026 opening match start?</h2>The RCB vs SRH IPL 2026 opening match will start at 7:30 p.m. IST, with the toss taking place at 7:00 p.m. IST.<h2>Which channel will broadcast the RCB vs SRH IPL 2026 opening match?</h2>The Star Sports Network will broadcast the RCB vs SRH IPL 2026 opening match in India.<h2>Which platform will live-stream the RCB vs SRH IPL 2026 opening match?</h2>The Jio+Hotstar will live-stream the RCB vs SRH IPL 2026 opening match in India.&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-cameron-green-to-liam-livingstone-5-most-expensive-players-in-ipl-2026-auctions-matheesha-pathirana-kartik-sharma-prashant-veer-1774031148132">From Cameron Green to Liam Livingstone, 5 most expensive players in IPL 2026 auctions</a><h2>Squads</h2>Royal Challengers Bengaluru&nbsp;Squad: Virat Kohli, Philip Salt, Devdutt Padikkal, Rajat Patidar(c), Tim David, Jitesh Sharma(w), Krunal Pandya, Romario Shepherd, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Suyash Sharma, Jacob Duffy, Josh Hazlewood, Rasikh Salam Dar, Venkatesh Iyer, Mangesh Yadav, Vihaan Malhotra, Vicky Ostwal, Abhinandan Singh, Jacob Bethell, Jordan Cox, Swapnil Singh, Kanishk Chouhan, Satvik Deswal.&nbsp;Sunrisers Hyderabad&nbsp;Squad: Abhishek Sharma, Travis Head, Ishan Kishan(w/c), Liam Livingstone, Heinrich Klaasen, Aniket Verma, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Harshal Patel, Jaydev Unadkat, Harsh Dubey, Eshan Malinga, Shivam Mavi, Smaran Ravichandran, Zeeshan Ansari, Salil Arora, Kamindu Mendis, Brydon Carse, David Payne, Praful Hinge, Sakib Hussain, Krains Fuletra, Amit Kumar.

IPL 2026 will be the first time RCB will walk out as the defending champions, having won the title in 2025. So ahead of the key clash, here are all the details of the opening match, including match timing, squad, live streaming and more.

The Indian Premier League (IPL 2026) season is all set to start on Saturday (Mar 29) as Royal Challengers Benglauru (RCB) take on SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) at the iconic M.Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. IPL 2026 will be the first time RCB will walk out as the defending champions, having won the title in 2025. So ahead of the key clash, here are all the details of the opening match, including match timing, squad, live streaming and more. Is there an opening ceremony for the IPL 2026? No. There will be no opening ceremony for the IPL 2026 match as the organisers scrapped the showpiece to pay tribute to the victims of the victory parade that took place on 4 June 2025. What is the head-to-head record for the RCB vs SRH clash in IPL history? Not much separates both RCB and SRH in overall head-to-head records, with the hosts of Saturday’s match winning 11 while Hyderabad have won 13 in 26 previous meetings. Two matches have ended without results. What is the venue for the RCB vs SRH IPL 2026 opening match? The M.Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru will be the venue for the RCB vs SRH IPL 2026 opening match. ALSO READ | From Rohit Sharma to Sanju Samson, 5 highest individual scores in a lost chase in IPL When will the RCB vs SRH IPL 2026 opening match start? The RCB vs SRH IPL 2026 opening match will start at 7:30 p.m. IST, with the toss taking place at 7:00 p.m. IST. Which channel will broadcast the RCB vs SRH IPL 2026 opening match? The Star Sports Network will broadcast the RCB vs SRH IPL 2026 opening match in India. Which platform will live-stream the RCB vs SRH IPL 2026 opening match? The Jio+Hotstar will live-stream the RCB vs SRH IPL 2026 opening match in India. ALSO READ | From Cameron Green to Liam Livingstone, 5 most expensive players in IPL 2026 auctions Squads Royal Challengers Bengaluru Squad: Virat Kohli, Philip Salt, Devdutt Padikkal, Rajat Patidar(c), Tim David, Jitesh Sharma(w), Krunal Pandya, Romario Shepherd, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Suyash Sharma, Jacob Duffy, Josh Hazlewood, Rasikh Salam Dar, Venkatesh Iyer, Mangesh Yadav, Vihaan Malhotra, Vicky Ostwal, Abhinandan Singh, Jacob Bethell, Jordan Cox, Swapnil Singh, Kanishk Chouhan, Satvik Deswal. Sunrisers Hyderabad Squad: Abhishek Sharma, Travis Head, Ishan Kishan(w/c), Liam Livingstone, Heinrich Klaasen, Aniket Verma, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Harshal Patel, Jaydev Unadkat, Harsh Dubey, Eshan Malinga, Shivam Mavi, Smaran Ravichandran, Zeeshan Ansari, Salil Arora, Kamindu Mendis, Brydon Carse, David Payne, Praful Hinge, Sakib Hussain, Krains Fuletra, Amit Kumar.

IPL 2026 will be the first time RCB will walk out as the defending champions, having won the title in 2025. So ahead of the key clash, here are all the details of the opening match, including match timing, squad, live streaming and more.

IPL 2026: Here's all you need to know about RCB vs SRH opening match - timing, squad, live streaming & more

It was yet another hard-fought but sorrowful evening for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) fans on Monday (April 15) after their side slumped to their&nbsp;sixth defeat in seven games in the Indian Premier League (IPL). On an evening when records were broken left, right and centre, RCB were on the receiving end despite scoring 262/7 in their innings and suffered a 25-run defeat against SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH). After the defeat, RCB skipper Faf du Plessis emphasised the challenges ahead and that they have been trying different things.

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Then and now 🥹<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PlayBold?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PlayBold</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/%E0%B2%A8%E0%B2%AE%E0%B3%8D%E0%B2%AERCB?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ನಮ್ಮRCB</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IPL2024?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#IPL2024</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RCBvSRH?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RCBvSRH</a> <a href="https://t.co/jTjSgfHM6j">pic.twitter.com/jTjSgfHM6j</a>
— Royal Challengers Bengaluru (@RCBTweets) <a href="https://twitter.com/RCBTweets/status/1780045949617762314?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 16, 2024</a></blockquote>
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<h2>Faf du Plessis emphasises on challenge ahead</h2>

"It's tough, we tried quite a few things, a few different things, and they weren't quite working," du Plessis said after the match. "So it's a sign of confidence in the other group. When your confidence is low, there's nowhere to hide in the game.

"The game is moving forward and so fast these days from the batters, so when you are not on top of your game [as a bowler], it's hard. Obviously, with five bowlers, it's tough on a wicket like that. We are going to keep trying different things."

Despite their sixth defeat in seven IPL 2024 matches, RCB had few positives to take from Monday’s game with the skipper scoring 62 off 28 while Dinesh Karthik almost produced the goods to win the match. Karthik scored 83 off 35 and looked set to win a historic match before falling to T Natarajan in the penultimate over. Former skipper Virat Kohli also contributed with a well-made 42 off 20, but with a lack of support, RCB were always the second-favourites to win the match.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2024-list-of-records-broken-during-srhs-maverick-performance-against-rcb-711615">IPL 2024: List of records broken during SRH's maverick performance against RCB</a>

RCB’s bowling department hardly had any positives after SRH deposited them for a record 287/2 in 20 overs. For the second time this season, SRH smashed the IPL record for the highest total, having done so during the Mumbai Indians match as well. Four RCB bowlers were hit for fifty-plus scores to compound the misery.

<h2>KKR next for RCB</h2>

Faf’s side next take on Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) on Sunday (April 21) and will have a tough task in hand to keep their playoff hopes alive. A defeat could be damaging for the hopes of RCB when they take on KKR at Eden Gardens. Shreyas Iyer’s side is yet to lose an IPL 2024 match at home, making it another daunting task for RCB to manufacture a rare win.

It was yet another hard-fought but sorrowful evening for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) fans on Monday (April 15) after their side slumped to their sixth defeat in seven games in the Indian Premier League (IPL).

It was yet another hard-fought but sorrowful evening for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) fans on Monday (April 15) after their side slumped to their sixth defeat in seven games in the Indian Premier League (IPL). On an evening when records were broken left, right and centre, RCB were on the receiving end despite scoring 262/7 in their innings and suffered a 25-run defeat against SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH). After the defeat, RCB skipper Faf du Plessis emphasised the challenges ahead and that they have been trying different things. Then and now 🥹#PlayBold #ನಮ್ಮRCB #IPL2024 #RCBvSRH pic.twitter.com/jTjSgfHM6j — Royal Challengers Bengaluru (@RCBTweets) April 16, 2024 × Faf du Plessis emphasises on challenge ahead "It's tough, we tried quite a few things, a few different things, and they weren't quite working," du Plessis said after the match. "So it's a sign of confidence in the other group. When your confidence is low, there's nowhere to hide in the game. "The game is moving forward and so fast these days from the batters, so when you are not on top of your game [as a bowler], it's hard. Obviously, with five bowlers, it's tough on a wicket like that. We are going to keep trying different things." Despite their sixth defeat in seven IPL 2024 matches, RCB had few positives to take from Monday’s game with the skipper scoring 62 off 28 while Dinesh Karthik almost produced the goods to win the match. Karthik scored 83 off 35 and looked set to win a historic match before falling to T Natarajan in the penultimate over. Former skipper Virat Kohli also contributed with a well-made 42 off 20, but with a lack of support, RCB were always the second-favourites to win the match. ALSO READ | IPL 2024: List of records broken during SRH's maverick performance against RCB RCB’s bowling department hardly had any positives after SRH deposited them for a record 287/2 in 20 overs. For the second time this season, SRH smashed the IPL record for the highest total, having done so during the Mumbai Indians match as well. Four RCB bowlers were hit for fifty-plus scores to compound the misery. KKR next for RCB Faf’s side next take on Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) on Sunday (April 21) and will have a tough task in hand to keep their playoff hopes alive. A defeat could be damaging for the hopes of RCB when they take on KKR at Eden Gardens. Shreyas Iyer’s side is yet to lose an IPL 2024 match at home, making it another daunting task for RCB to manufacture a rare win.

IPL 2024: We are going to keep trying, emphasises RCB captain Faf du Plessis after SRH humbling

It was an evening to forget for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) on Monday (April 15) after they suffered their sixth defeat of the season. An evening that went down in the folklore of SunRisers Hyderabad for several reasons, saw them smash records left, right and centre. While RCB bowlers were on the receiving end of an eye-catching batting display from SRH, former skipper Virat Kohli was seen displeased with the team’s performance.

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Frustration of Virat Kohli in the Field. 😌<a href="https://t.co/bjgKpkHmWa">pic.twitter.com/bjgKpkHmWa</a>
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<h2>Virat left furious by bowlers</h2>

With several videos circulating on social media, one video in particular shows&nbsp;Virat was not happy with the team’s bowlers with Travis Head and Co in a rampaging mood. Four RCB bowlers conceded fifty-plus scores, an embarrassing record for the franchise. However, with bowlers getting hit for sixes in plenty, Virat could not hide his disappointment and was seen kicking the ground in anger while also fuming at field placements at times.

RCB conceded 22 sixes on the night and 287 runs in an IPL match, the highest by any team in the history of the tournament.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2024-list-of-records-broken-during-srhs-maverick-performance-against-rcb-711615">IPL 2024: List of records broken during SRH's maverick performance against RCB</a>

While there were hardly any positives in the match, little respite was offered by captain Faf du Plessis (62 off 28) and Dinesh Karthik (83 off 35). The duo made sure RCB lost by only 25 runs and put up the highest score by any team while chasing a target in IPL history. They narrowly missed out on their record of 263 runs and were restricted to 262/7 in 20 overs, losing by 25 runs.

RCB are next in action on Sunday when they take on Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at Eden Gardens. Considering KKR are still unbeaten at home&nbsp;during this campaign, it will be a tough task for RCB to get their second win of the season. Monday’s defeat was also their third consecutive on home turf as they now face an improbable task of winning all their matches to stand a remote chance of reaching the playoffs.

It was an evening to forget for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) on Monday (April 15) after they suffered their sixth defeat of the season.

It was an evening to forget for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) on Monday (April 15) after they suffered their sixth defeat of the season. An evening that went down in the folklore of SunRisers Hyderabad for several reasons, saw them smash records left, right and centre. While RCB bowlers were on the receiving end of an eye-catching batting display from SRH, former skipper Virat Kohli was seen displeased with the team’s performance. Frustration of Virat Kohli in the Field. 😌pic.twitter.com/bjgKpkHmWa — CricketGully (@thecricketgully) April 16, 2024 × Virat left furious by bowlers With several videos circulating on social media, one video in particular shows Virat was not happy with the team’s bowlers with Travis Head and Co in a rampaging mood. Four RCB bowlers conceded fifty-plus scores, an embarrassing record for the franchise. However, with bowlers getting hit for sixes in plenty, Virat could not hide his disappointment and was seen kicking the ground in anger while also fuming at field placements at times. RCB conceded 22 sixes on the night and 287 runs in an IPL match, the highest by any team in the history of the tournament. ALSO READ | IPL 2024: List of records broken during SRH's maverick performance against RCB While there were hardly any positives in the match, little respite was offered by captain Faf du Plessis (62 off 28) and Dinesh Karthik (83 off 35). The duo made sure RCB lost by only 25 runs and put up the highest score by any team while chasing a target in IPL history. They narrowly missed out on their record of 263 runs and were restricted to 262/7 in 20 overs, losing by 25 runs. RCB are next in action on Sunday when they take on Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at Eden Gardens. Considering KKR are still unbeaten at home during this campaign, it will be a tough task for RCB to get their second win of the season. Monday’s defeat was also their third consecutive on home turf as they now face an improbable task of winning all their matches to stand a remote chance of reaching the playoffs.

IPL 2024: Virat Kohli was all shades of furious due to RCB's horror show with ball against SRH - WATCH