Royal Challengers Bengaluru have won the match # 57 of IPL 2026 from Kolkata Knight Riders by 6 wickets. Royal Challengers Bengaluru strengthened their playoff push with another impressive victory over Kolkata Knight Riders in Raipur.
The defending champions continued their winning run and climbed to the top of the table with 16 points. More importantly, the result moved them closer to securing a playoff spot.
The match started late because of rain. However, the delay did little to slow down the intensity once play began. Kolkata posted a competitive total thanks to contributions throughout the batting lineup.
Finn Allen attacked early and gave KKR quick momentum during the powerplay. Soon after, captain Ajinkya Rahane added useful runs at the top. Still, the innings truly came alive through Angkrish Raghuvanshi.
The young batter anchored the innings beautifully and remained unbeaten with a classy knock. He rotated strike smartly, punished loose deliveries and ensured Kolkata maintained a healthy scoring rate during the middle overs.
Alongside him, Cameron Green provided attacking intent before Rinku Singh delivered important late boundaries to push the total higher. For Bengaluru, the bowling attack stayed disciplined throughout.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar controlled the scoring brilliantly and delivered another economical spell. Meanwhile, Josh Hazlewood and Rasikh Salam chipped in with important wickets on a surface that offered uneven pace.
Chasing the target, Bengaluru relied once again on Virat Kohli. After two low scores in previous matches, Kohli returned in magnificent fashion. The opener looked composed from the beginning and controlled the chase with experience and precision.
Jacob Bethell played a quick attacking cameo before departing inside the powerplay. However, Kohli soon found strong support from Devdutt Padikkal. The pair punished Kolkata’s loose bowling and built a crucial partnership that shifted momentum completely toward Bengaluru.
KKR missed two vital chances during the chase in match # 57 of IPL 2026. Kohli survived an early drop, while Padikkal also received a lifeline shortly after. Those missed opportunities proved extremely costly as both batters made Kolkata pay heavily.
Padikkal played fluently and attacked the spinners confidently before eventually losing his wicket. Later, Rajat Patidar and Tim David departed during the closing stages, briefly raising hopes for Kolkata. Nevertheless, Kohli remained calm.
The former captain expertly guided the chase till the end and completed a stunning century under pressure. During the innings, he also crossed the landmark of 14,000 T20 runs, adding another milestone to his remarkable career. Kolkata’s bowling struggled to create breakthroughs in the middle overs.
Without Varun Chakravarthy, the attack lacked control against Kohli and Padikkal. Although Kartik Tyagi impressed with disciplined bowling and picked up key wickets, Bengaluru stayed ahead of the required rate throughout most of the chase.
After the match, Padikkal praised Kohli’s ability to finish chases and described batting alongside him as a special experience. He also stressed the team’s determination to finish inside the top two.
Rahane, meanwhile admitted that dropping Kohli on a difficult surface changed the game. He also acknowledged the importance of the partnership between Kohli and Padikkal in deciding the contest.
For Bengaluru the victory in match # 57 of IPL 2026 highlighted the balance and confidence within the squad. Their batting continues to deliver under pressure, while the bowlers remain consistent in crucial moments. As the tournament enters its final phase, RCB look increasingly like serious title contenders once again.
