RCB player Virat Kohli, left, and Rajat Patidar during the opening match of IPL 2026. (AP Image)
New Delhi: Defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru started 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 propelled RCB to a 26-ball win.
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Go beyond boundaries with our YouTube channel. Subscribe now!Patidar did not hold back in his admiration, describing Kohli as the backbone of any run chase. “There are no words that can describe Virat Kohli. When he is on the field, the team is always in pursuit. He is the No. 1 batsman,” he said.The RCB captain credited Kohli and Padikkal with laying the foundation of the chase, dismissing suggestions of a pre-set aggressive template.
“It’s not politics, we evaluated the wicket and it was good. The innings of Padikkal and Kohli was key,” he explained.“Everyone participated”While Kohli’s knock led the chase, Patidar highlighted the team effort behind the win. “The way the boys played, and this was the opening game of the season, everyone got involved and did the job,” he said.The key turning point, according to him, was a powerplay spell from debutant Jacob Duffy, who reduced the SR to 29/3. “Duffy was playing his first match and the way he played and the wickets he took was the turning point,” Patidar noted.
He also praised Phil Salt’s amazing efforts in this field. “That was a great catch by Salt. Even I was surprised, but he’s a great player,” he said.Patidar himself contributed by firing a quick 31 off 12 balls and revealed that his intention was simple: “I wanted to make a lot of impact… I just wanted to have a big impact.”Opposition takes note of Kohli’s threatSkipper SRH
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He also acknowledged Kohli’s crucial role. “It was very important that he gets the wicket as soon as possible. Otherwise, if he keeps going, it is difficult to stop him,” he admitted.As RCB begin their title defense in emphatic fashion, Patidar’s words reflected the mood in Bengaluru – when Kohli is in full flow, the chase is never far away.