IPL 2026: Kohli powers RCB to top as Hazlewood, Bhuvneshwar wreck LSG batters

BENGALURU: The early phase of IPL has largely belonged to emerging talent and young turks. But the midweek fixture at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium here was different. It turned out to be a vintage Wednesday. Two experienced exponents of the sport from Royal Challengers Bengaluru came out to show Lucknow Super Giants how the job is done.

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Two seasoned campaigners led the charge. The 36-year-old Bhuvneshwar Kumar (3/27) set the tone with a masterclass in swing bowling, exploiting movement early before nailing his yorkers at the death. At the other end, 35-year-old Josh Hazlewood (1/20) was relentless, operating on probing lengths that proved difficult to read. On a spongy surface, RCB’s pacers — with Rasikh Dar (4/24) joining the party — used the short ball to unsettle the opposition before bundling LSG out for a modest 146.

Chasing a below-par target, RCB did flirt with a wobble but eventually sealed a five-wicket win in 15.1 overs, maintaining their unbeaten run at home this season.

Phil Salt fell early, but Virat Kohli, coming in as an Impact Player for Suyash Sharma, quickly found his rhythm. Consecutive boundaries off Mohammed Shami showcased his trademark wristwork and timing. Kohli raced to 34 off his first 14 deliveries, putting the chase firmly on track.

However, disciplined bowling from Avesh Khan, coupled with wickets at the other end, slowed the tempo. Kohli was denied a half-century, falling for 49 (34b; 6x4, 1x6), caught by Nicholas Pooran at long-on. But the others ensured the job was done with plenty to spare.

Earlier, LSG’s sluggish start to the IPL season showed little sign of improvement as their batting unit faltered again. On the eve of the clash, the franchise’s global cricket director, Tom Moody, had hoped the venue’s run-friendly reputation would act as a tonic. Instead, LSG’s struggles deepened.

RCB’s tactic of using short-pitched deliveries effectively unsettled the batters. Hazlewood brought control at the top, Bhuvneshwar was incisive, and Rasikh starred with clever variations that left batters guessing.

LSG never quite recovered after an early setback. Aiden Markram fell in the fourth over, miscuing a full toss from Rasikh to Devdutt Padikkal at covers. From there, it became a slow-paced procession. The batters struggled to gauge the pace of the wicket, often committing too early. RCB tightened the screws with 15 dot balls in the Powerplay, setting the tone for the collapse.

Pooran’s lean run continued as he fell to Hazlewood, dragging a short ball back onto his stumps while attempting a pull. Mitchell Marsh (40; 32b; 3x4, 2x6) and Ayush Badoni (38) offered brief resistance, stitching together a 36-run stand to steady the innings. But Krunal Pandya (2/38) broke through, deceiving Marsh with a quicker delivery that crashed into the stumps before removing Abdul Samad in his next over.

Mukul Choudhary’s 39 added some late respectability, but the innings never gained real momentum.

INJURY SCARE FOR RISHABH PANT

Rishabh Pant’s difficult outing was compounded by an injury scare. He was first beaten outside off by Hazlewood before being struck on the right abdomen by a rising short ball. Attempting to counterattack, he then inside-edged onto his left elbow, leaving him in visible discomfort. After receiving treatment, Pant walked off, only to return in the 16th over with LSG in trouble at 118/5. Still not fully at ease, the LSG skipper struggled for timing and was eventually dismissed by Bhuvneshwar Kumar after facing just three deliveries.