Watch: Virat Kohli gives flying kiss to wife Anushka Sharma after win in RCB vs SRH IPL 2026 opener

Defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) started the IPL 2026 campaign strongly, as they claimed a memorable win against SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) in the first game of the tournament. After the bowlers, especially IPL debutant Jacob Duffy stunned by providing a strong start, Virat Kohli and other RCB batters strongly finished the game. Although it was a high-scoring game, the hosts RCB chased comfortably. After winning the tournament opener, Virat gave a flying kiss to his wife and Bollywood actress Anushka Sharma.

After RCB captain Rajat Patidar chose to field first, SRH got a horrible start with 29 for three wickets. Ishan Kishan (80 off 38 balls), the stand-in captain, Heinrich Klaasen (31 off 22 balls), and Aniket Verma (43 off 18 balls) helped SRH to manage the first innings total of 201/9 in 20 overs. 

It was the IPL debut for New Zealand pacer Jacob Duffy, who produced a strong start for the defending champions (4-0-22-3), which helped the hosts to control the opponent's innings, who just managed to score 200+ total. In fact, the pitch was proven flatter, as RCB chased down the target without any significant trouble despite the early dismissal of the opener Phil Salt (8).

See Also: “They said Virat Kohli was over” – Fans can’t stop praising Virat Kohli after RCB vs SRH IPL 2026 opener

RCB legend Virat Kohli played great match-winning knock

Former RCB captain Virat Kohli was in full control with the impact sub player Devdutt Padikkal and skipper Rajat Patidar. Kohli had a furious 101-run partnership for the second wicket with the powerful Devdutt, as the in-form batter slammed 61 off 26 balls. Later, RCB captain Rajat scored 31 off only 12 balls, while Virat controlled the chase with another brilliant knock.

Virat reached the 50-run mark in 33 balls, as the right-handed batter ended the game with a sixer, following three successive fours. While RCB won by six wickets with 26 balls remaining, the right-handed batter gave a flying kiss to his wife. 

Another day, another new history for Virat Kohli

Virat remained not out for 69 runs in 38 balls with five fours and five sixes. The leading run-scorer in IPL history added another 50+ score to stretch his record of most IPL 50+ scores to 72 times. While he is just four sixes away from becoming the third batter in IPL history to hit 300 sixes, the right-handed batter became the first player in IPL history to score 4000+ runs while chasing. He has now scored 4027 IPL runs in the second innings.

Fans' reactions to Virat Kohli's flying kiss to Anushka Sharma