Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) kicked off IPL 2026 with a fiery 6-wicket win against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium on Saturday, March 28. Virat Kohli and Devdutt Padikkal powered RCB to the fastest 200-plus run chase in IPL history.
The defending champions reached the 202-run target with 26 balls still left against Sunrisers Hyderabad, thanks to a stunning batting show from Kohli (69* off 38 balls) and Padikkal (61 runs off 26 balls) at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.
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However, this IPL 2026 season opener was an emotional homecoming for RCB. The stadium opened its gates for the first time since the heartbreaking stampede in June 2025, where 11 fans tragically lost their lives during the team’s maiden IPL trophy-winning celebrations.
RCB pays touching tribute to the stampede victims
Now, the Bengaluru franchise paid tribute in a deeply respectful way as the players wore black armbands, the warm-up shirts carried the number 11, and both teams stood in silence before the season opener got underway at the same venue on Saturday.
In a special and lasting gesture, there is now a special memorial for the fans who lost their lives in the stampede inside the M Chinnaswamy Stadium. Eleven seats have also been kept empty forever, covered by a small white fence and decorated with flowers.
These seats remind everyone of the lives lost. At the entrance, there is also a plaque that tells their story, so their memory stays alive in every match played at the stadium in Bengaluru.
We dedicate this win to the XI fans: Rajat Patidar
After the match, RCB captain Rajat Patidar hailed Kohli and Padikkal for setting the tone during the chase with fearless stroke play against the SRH. Patidar also said that the defending champions have dedicated their six-wicket victory over the Hyderabad side to those 11 fans.
Captain Rajat Patidar said in an RCB video posted on social media, “The way Dev and Virat started, I think that was a good base for us, and after that, it wasn’t as if we wanted to finish early; the game went on and the runs were made, so then we decided to chase as early as possible.”
Patidar added, “So, this win we dedicate to the XI fans, who we lost last year.”
Dinesh Karthik says tribute to late fans made the match even more special
Meanwhile, RCB’s mentor and batting coach Dinesh Karthik also explained the moment when they paid tribute to those fans who lost their lives outside the stadium in a stampede last year. He described the Bengaluru crowd as one of the happiest and most energetic in the IPL, and their performance against SRH was the perfect way to give something back to the fans.
Dinesh Karthik said in the same video, “I must say, it was pretty emotional at the start when we all stood and the wind dropped silent. It was nice that we honored them, and then the way that they always cheer is second to none. There is so much passion when it comes to RCB.”
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Karthik added, “Just when the bus comes into the ground, the number of people who are just watching you—that in itself is a motivation—and then in the ground, the energy. And we are definitely one of the loudest, most cheerful, and happiest stadiums to be in. So, it’s a bit of a full house, and I’m very happy we put up a very critical performance.”
𝗔 𝗰𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗜𝗣𝗟 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 – let’s take you to the team’s dressing room for more! ❤️🔥
Yet another chase masterclass from Virat, Dev’s supreme knock, Duffy’s deadly spell making it a sensational debut, Salty’s jaw dropping fielding, and the love of our… pic.twitter.com/CT6xdat6rF
— Royal Challengers Bengaluru (@RCBTweets) March 29, 2026