Defending IPL champions, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, produced a dominant all-round performance to defeat Lucknow Super Giants by 5 wickets at the M. Chinnaswamy
Stadium, strengthening their position near the top of the IPL 2026 table.
Batting first, Lucknow Super Giants were restricted to 146 all out. Mitchell Marsh top-scored with 40 off 32 balls, while Mukul Choudhary (39) and Ayush Badoni (38) offered brief resistance. However, LSG's innings never fully settled, especially after a major setback when captain Rishabh Pant retired hurt in the 5th over due to an elbow injury. He later returned but could only manage 1 run before being dismissed.
RCB's bowlers were in complete control throughout. Rasikh Salam Dar delivered a standout spell of 4/24, breaking the backbone of the LSG middle order. At the same time, Bhuvneshwar Kumar supported him brilliantly with 3/27, ensuring LSG were bowled out well short of a competitive total.
In response, RCB chased down the target in 15.1 overs with 149/5, showing both intent and composure. Virat Kohli, used as an Impact Substitute, anchored the chase with a quick 49 off 34 balls. Captain Rajat Patidar (27 off 13) and Jitesh Sharma (23 off 9) added aggressive cameos to maintain momentum, before Tim David (14*) and Romario Shepherd (14*) calmly finished the job with 29 balls remaining.
How Many Matches Does RCB Need To Win To Qualify For The Playoffs?
After their 5-wicket defending champions, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, have strengthened their position in IPL 2026 and eased their path to the playoffs.
With 8 points from their first 5 matches, RCB now sit in a strong position. For Rajaj Patidar's men, the road ahead is clear. Out of the 9 remaining games, RCB needs to win 4 more games, which will give them 8 more points. This will take their cumulative points to 16, thereby giving them a shot at the playoffs.
On the higher end, if RCB continues their current momentum and secures 6 or 7 wins, they could reach 18 to 20 points, putting them firmly in contention for a top-two finish and a direct path to the qualifier.
The Royal Challengers Bengaluru will play their next game against the Delhi Capitals at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium on April 18.
