NEW DELHI: Defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru kicked off IPL 2026 by rewriting the record books, pulling off the fastest-ever chase of a 200-plus target to defeat Sunrisers Hyderabad by six wickets at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium on Saturday.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Chasing 202, RCB raced to 203/4 in just 15.4 overs, sealing the win with 26 balls to spare — the quickest 200-plus chase in IPL history. In doing so, they eclipsed the previous record set by Rajasthan Royals, who had chased 210 in 15.5 overs against Gujarat Titans in Jaipur last season.The emphatic result also bettered RCB’s own previous benchmark of chasing a 200-plus total in 16 overs, underlining the scale of their dominance in the season opener.Least overs taken to complete a 200-plus chase in IPL:
| Overs Taken | Match | Venue | Year |
| 15.4 | RCB vs SRH | Bengaluru | 2026 |
| 15.5 | RR vs GT | Jaipur | 2025 |
| 16.0 | RCB vs GT | Ahmedabad | 2024 |
| 16.3 | MI vs RCB | Mumbai | 2023 |
| 17.3 | DC vs GL | Delhi | 2017 |
Kohli-Padikkal partnership powers record nightThe record-breaking chase was built on a stunning 101-run stand off just 45 balls between Virat Kohli and Devdutt Padikkal.Padikkal set the tempo with a blistering 61 off 26 balls, bringing up his half-century in just 21 deliveries with a flurry of boundaries. Kohli complemented him perfectly with an unbeaten 69 off 38 balls, showcasing his trademark control and shot-making to register his 64th IPL fifty.RCB’s intent was clear from the outset — 76 runs in the powerplay and 100 up in just 8.1 overs — as they dismantled SRH’s bowling attack with calculated aggression.Captain Rajat Patidar chipped in with a rapid 31 off 12 balls to keep the momentum intact, ensuring there were no hiccups in the chase.Kishan’s effort in vain for SRHEarlier, SRH posted 201/9 after being put in to bat, with stand-in skipper Ishan Kishan leading the charge with a fluent 80 off 38 balls.After slipping to 29/3, Kishan and Heinrich Klaasen added 97 runs for the fourth wicket to rebuild the innings. Klaasen scored 31 before falling in a debated boundary catch decision.Debutant Jacob Duffy impressed for RCB with figures of 3/22, triggering the early collapse.Despite a late cameo from Aniket Verma (43), SRH’s total proved inadequate against a rampant RCB side.With this record-breaking chase, RCB not only opened their campaign in style but also sent an early warning to the rest of the league.
