Virat Kohli and Devdutt Padikkal put on match-winning performances as Royal Challengers Bengaluru comfortably defeated Gujarat Titans by five wickets on Friday at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium. Chasing a challenging target of 206, RCB did not have the smoothest of starts. The early dismissal of Jacob Bethell for 14 gave them a jolt.
But veteran star Virat Kohli anchored the innings with authority, blazing a much-needed 81. Meanwhile, Devdutt Padikkal provided crucial support with a well-constructed 55. Down the order, Tim David and Krunal Pandya remained unbeaten on 10 and 23, respectively, as RCB went over the line in 18.5 overs, scoring 206/5.
Earlier, Gujarat Titans had posted an imposing 205/3 in 20 overs after being put in to bat. The standout performer was Sai Sudharsan, who slammed a stunning century—his third in the IPL. His 100 off 58 balls was an exceptional knock, featuring 11 fours and 5 sixes. Captain Shubman Gill contributed 32, and Jos Buttler added 25 runs to make valuable contributions.