RCB captain Rajat Patidar declared “no words” for Virat Kohli after the star batter’s unbeaten 69 steered Royal Challengers Bengaluru to a commanding six-wicket win over Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL 2026 opener at M Chinnaswamy Stadium.
Kohli’s Match-Winning Masterclass
Kohli (69* off 38 balls, 5×4, 5×6) anchored the chase of 202, finishing with back-to-back boundaries in the 16th over. Devdutt Padikkal’s explosive 61 (26 balls) and Patidar’s 31 (12) powered RCB to victory with 26 balls remaining, silencing critics after his T20 hiatus.
Patidar’s Glowing Tribute
“No words can describe Virat Kohli. When he’s in, the team’s always in the chase. He’s the No. 1 batter in the world,” Patidar said post-match, praising Kohli’s return to form after IPL 2025 triumph. Kohli credited ODI momentum for his “120% intensity.”
