Royal Challengers Bengaluru sealed a commanding 43-run victory over Chennai Super Kings at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium on April 5, 2026, continuing their strong start to the IPL season while handing CSK their third consecutive defeat.
Chasing a daunting target of 251, CSK showed flashes of intent but were eventually bowled out for 207 in 19.4 overs, falling well short despite a few spirited performances in the middle order.
🚨 IPL 2026 | #RCBvCSK | Royal Challengers Bangalore (250-3) defeated Chennai Super Kings 207 by 43 runs at M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.@IPL | @RCBTweets | @ChennaiIPL | #IPL2026 #SanjuSamson #ViratKolhi #RuturajGaikwad #TheStatesman pic.twitter.com/On0RlnLFGQ
— The Statesman (@TheStatesmanLtd) April 5, 2026
The chase never quite settled into rhythm, even though Sarfaraz Khan led the resistance with a brisk 50 off 25 balls, striking eight fours and two sixes. He found support from Prashant Veer, who contributed a steady 43 off 29 balls, while Jamie Overton injected late momentum with a quickfire 37 off just 16 deliveries.
There were smaller contributions from Anshul Kamboj (19 off 12) and Shivam Dube (18 off 13), and a brief cameo from skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad, but regular wickets ensured CSK never truly threatened the target.
RCB’s bowlers held their nerve brilliantly while defending the massive total. Bhuvneshwar Kumar led the charge with figures of 3/41 in his four overs, striking at crucial moments to halt CSK’s progress. He was well supported by Abhinandan Singh, who picked up two wickets, while Krunal Pandya and Jacob Duffy chipped in with two wickets each to maintain constant pressure.
Earlier in the evening, RCB had put on a batting masterclass, posting a formidable 250/3 after being asked to bat. The innings was headlined by a stunning unbeaten 70 off 25 balls from Tim David, who unleashed a brutal assault in the death overs, including eight sixes.
🚨 IPL 2026 | #RCBvCSK | Tim David struck an unbeaten 70 and Devdutt Padikkal scored 50 as Royal Challengers Bengaluru posted 250/3 in 20 overs against Chennai Super Kings at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium on Sunday, the highest total of the season, surpassing Sunrisers Hyderabad’s… pic.twitter.com/y2OjkMbaH3
— The Statesman (@TheStatesmanLtd) April 5, 2026
He was complemented by Devdutt Padikkal, who continued his fine form with a composed half-century, while the rest of the top order chipped in to ensure RCB carried momentum throughout the innings.
In the end, the gap created by RCB’s explosive finish proved too steep for CSK to bridge. With this emphatic win, RCB not only reinforced their title credentials but also deepened CSK’s early-season struggles, leaving them searching for answers as the tournament progresses.
RCB vs CSK IPL 2026: Playing XIs
Royal Challengers Bengaluru:
Rajat Patidar (c), Phil Salt (wk), Virat Kohli, Devdutt Padikkal, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Tim David, Romario Shepherd, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Abhinandan Singh, Jacob Duffy.
Chennai Super Kings:
Ruturaj Gaikwad (c), Sanju Samson (wk), Ayush Mhatre, Sarfaraz Khan, Shivam Dube, Prashant Veer, Jamie Overton, Noor Ahmad, Anshul Kamboj, Matt Henry, Khaleel Ahmed