IPL 2026: Kohli helps RCB top, Hazlewood, Bhuvneshwar stun LSG batsmen

BENGALURU: The early stages of the IPL were largely reserved for emerging talents and the Young Turks. But the midweek match at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium was different. It turned out to be a typical Wednesday. Two experienced sports representatives from Royal Challengers Bangalore showed Lucknow Supergiants how the job is done.Push boundaries with our YouTube channel. Subscribe now!Two experienced activists led the charge. The 36-year-old Bhuvneshwar Kumar (3/27) Set the tone for a masterclass in swing bowling, exploiting movement early on before knocking the yorkers down. On the other side, 35 years old Josh Hazlewood (1/20) is relentless, running at probing lengths that are difficult to read. On a soft pitch, RCB’s pacer – who was also joined by Rasikh Dar (4/24) – disrupted the opposition with short balls before dismissing LSG for 146 runs.RCB did falter a bit in pursuit of a below-par target but ended up winning by 5 wickets at a win rate of 15.1 runs to maintain their unbeaten record at home this season.Phil Salt went down early, but Virat KohliPlaying as an impact player for Suyash Sharma, he quickly found his rhythm. Mohammed Shami’s back-to-back drives showcased his trademark wrist skills and timing. Kohli scored 34 off his first 14 deliveries to put the chase firmly on track.However, Avesh Khan’s disciplined bowling coupled with a wicket at the other end slowed down the tempo. Kohli was denied a half-century, falling for 49 (34b; 6×4, 1×6), caught at long-on by Nicholas Pooran. But others make sure the job gets done right, with plenty to spare.

Earlier, LSG had a sluggish start to the IPL season but without any sign of improvement, their batting unit struggled again. On the eve of the game, the team’s global director of cricket, Tom Moody, had hoped the venue’s run-friendly reputation would be a shot in the arm. Instead, LSG’s woes deepened.RCB’s strategy of using short overs was effective in unsettling the batsmen. Hazlewood were in control in the first half, with Bhuvneshwar’s sharp display and Rathik keeping the batsmen guessing with some clever variation.After their early setbacks, LSG never fully recovered. Aiden Markram fell in the fourth over and missed a full toss from Rasikh to Devdutt Padikkal at cover. From there, the parade became a slow procession. Batsmen find it difficult to gauge the speed of the wicket and often take the shot too early. RCB tightened the screws with 15 wickets in the Powerplay, setting the tone for the collapse.Pooran continued his lean run as he fell to Hazlewood, dragging a short ball back to his stumps while trying to pull. Mitchell Marsh (40; 32b; 3×4, 2×6) and Ayush Badoni (38) provided brief resistance, cobbling together a 36-run stand to stabilize the innings. But Krunal Pandya (2/38) broke through, deceiving Marsh with a quicker delivery that hit the stumps before removing Abdul Samad in the next over.Mukul Choudhary’s 39 gave the late innings some respect, but the innings never gained real momentum.

RISHABH PANT INJURY CONCERNS

Rishabh Pant’s difficult run has been compounded by an injury scare. He was first beaten by Hazlewood outside off and then hit in the right midriff by a rising short ball. When he tried to fight back, he pressed his inside edge against his left elbow, causing him visibly discomfort. After receiving treatment, Pant left the field and did not return until the 16th over, with LSG finishing at 118/5. Still not completely relaxed, the LSG captain struggled with his timing and was eventually dismissed by Bhuvneshwar Kumar after managing just three deliveries.