Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) registered a commanding five-wicket win over Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in their Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 clash in Bengaluru on Wednesday, riding on a clinical bowling display led by Rasikh Salam Dar and a composed chase anchored by Virat Kohli.
Rasikh produced a standout spell, returning figures of 4/24, as LSG were bundled out for a modest 146 after being asked to bat first. He was well supported by Bhuvneshwar Kumar (3/27) and Josh Hazlewood (1/20), with Krunal Pandya also contributing two wickets (2/38).
LSG began steadily, reaching 22/0 in the first three overs before losing Aiden Markram for 12 off 8 balls on the final delivery of the fourth over, bowled by Rasikh. The innings suffered a further setback when skipper Rishabh Pant was struck on the elbow by a Hazlewood delivery in the fifth over and had to walk off.
RCB maintained tight control, restricting LSG to 35/1 at the end of the powerplay — their lowest powerplay score of the season — with 15 dot balls in the first six overs. Hazlewood struck again to dismiss Nicholas Pooran for 1, leaving LSG at 63/2 after nine overs.
Mitchell Marsh attempted to stabilise the innings with a well-made 40 off 32 balls, including three fours and two sixes, but was dismissed by Krunal Pandya in the 10th over, reducing LSG to 71/3. Krunal struck again in the 12th over to remove Abdul Samad for a two-ball duck, reaching the milestone of 100 IPL wickets and becoming the sixth finger spinner to achieve the feat.
Despite reaching 112/4 by the end of the 15th over, LSG failed to build momentum. Rasikh returned to dismiss Ayush Badoni for 38 off 24 balls in the 16th over. Pant, returning with a strapped elbow, managed just one run before being dismissed, as LSG slipped to 124/6 in the 17th over.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar then picked up back-to-back wickets of George Linde and Mohammed Shami in the 19th over. Rasikh wrapped up the innings in the 20th over by dismissing Mukul Choudhary (39 off 28 balls) and Avesh Khan, as LSG were bowled out for 146.
In response, RCB lost an early wicket when Phil Salt was bowled for 7 by Prince Yadav in the second over. Kohli, however, counterattacked, taking on Mohammed Shami and Prince Yadav with a flurry of boundaries.
Kohli and Devdutt Padikkal put together a solid partnership to take RCB to 60/1 at the end of the powerplay. Padikkal was dismissed for 10 by Avesh Khan in the eighth over, bringing captain Rajat Patidar to the crease.
Patidar accelerated quickly, hitting Shami for two sixes, helping RCB reach 86/2 after 10 overs. Kohli, who looked set for a half-century, was dismissed for 49 by Avesh Khan — the first time he has been out on that score in IPL.
Jitesh Sharma provided further impetus, smashing Digvesh Rathi for 22 runs in the 12th over. However, Prince Yadav struck twice in the 13th over to remove both Patidar and Sharma, briefly raising LSG’s hopes.
The chase was comfortably completed by Tim David and Romario Shepherd, who ensured RCB crossed the target with 29 balls remaining.
With this win, RCB moved to the top of the points table.
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