Kohli fuels a huge chase

Royal Challengers Bengaluru chased 206 with seven balls left on April 24, beating Gujarat Titans by five wickets behind Virat Kohli’s 44-ball 81. (espncricinfo.com) Gujarat Titans had posted 205 for 3 after Sai Sudharsan made 100 off 58 balls, with 11 fours and five sixes, and Jos Buttler finished unbeaten on 44 off 24. (espncricinfo.com) (espn.in) The chase turned on the first ball when Washington Sundar dropped Kohli at backward point on zero, and Kohli answered with 10 fours and three sixes. Devdutt Padikkal then hit 55 off 27 to keep the asking rate under control. (sports.ndtv.com) (espncricinfo.com) Royal Challengers Bengaluru reached 206 for 5 in 18.5 overs, with Krunal Pandya finishing unbeaten on 23 off 12 after Kohli fell in the 16th over. Rashid Khan took 2 for 49 for Gujarat Titans. (espn.in) (hindustantimes.com) The result moved Royal Challengers Bengaluru to No. 2 in the IPL 2026 standings after 34 matches. Gujarat Titans stayed seventh, according to the updated table published after the game. (indianexpress.com) (wisden.com) For Bengaluru, the timing mattered because this was the team’s final home game of the league stage at Chinnaswamy. Kohli called the ground “special” after the win. (sports.ndtv.com) (rediff.com) For Gujarat, Sudharsan’s century still ended in a loss, and ESPNcricinfo called it the team’s fourth defeat of the season. A 205 total at Bengaluru was not enough once Kohli’s reprieve became a full chase. (espncricinfo.com) (iplt20.com) The night ended with Kohli as player of the match and Royal Challengers Bengaluru back in the top two, after one dropped chance on ball one became 81 runs. (espn.in) (sports.ndtv.com)