Defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) registered their second successive Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 season victory by crushing five-time champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) by 43 runs on Sunday riding on eight sixes from Tim David who smashed his way to an unbeaten 70.
After the hosts were asked to bat first at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, David’s 25-ball blitz led RCB to 250/3, the highest total in this season’s championship. RCB condemned CSK to their third straight loss after bowling them out for 207 in 19.4 overs.
RCB pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar claimed three wickets. Krunal Pandya, Abhinandan Singh, and Jacob Duffy each claimed two.
With a higher run-rate than the Rajasthan Royals, Delhi Capitals, and Punjab Kings, RCB lead the 10-team IPL standings. The first two games have been won by all four teams.
After Virat Kohli struck an 18-ball 28, RCB, who won their maiden IPL crown in 18 attempts the previous year, got off to a fast start. The rest of the batting soon picked up speed.
Before captain Rajat Patidar, who finished undefeated on 48, and David tore into the Chennai attack, Kohli’s fellow opener Phil Salt scored 46 and Devdutt Padikkal reached 50.
At the end of the RCB innings, Australia’s David launched a vicious attack, hitting England’s Jamie Overton for four sixes and a four in a 30-run 19th over. RCB amassed 97 runs from the last five overs as David and Patidar combined for 99 runs in 36 balls.
CSK fell behind in the chase right away after losing three early wickets, including captain Ruturaj Gaikwad for 7.
Prashant Veer (43) and Overton (37), together with Sarfaraz Khan’s 25-ball fifty, gave some life to an otherwise lackluster CSK performance.
