Venkatesh Iyer

Actor Allu Arjun shared a heartwarming fan moment as his son Ayaan received a signed jersey from cricketer Venkatesh Iyer. Ayaan, a passionate RCB supporter, was thrilled with the gift. This encounter highlights the joy of young fans meeting their sporting heroes, with Ayaan's deep admiration for Virat Kohli also evident.

Qualifier 1 between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Gujarat Titans will decide the first finalist of IPL 2026.

Kagiso Rabada has set a new IPL record for the most wickets in the Powerplay in a single season, surpassing Mohammed Shami's previous record. This achievement came during Gujarat Titans' Qualifier 1 match against Royal Challengers Bengaluru. The winner of this high-stakes encounter will advance directly to the IPL final.

Former India opener Wasim Jaffer believes Virat Kohli should have moved past his heated exchange with Travis Head after the match. Jaffer emphasized Kohli's role as a global ambassador and stated that post-match interactions should remain respectful. He also suggested that RCB's heavy defeat could serve as a wake-up call before the playoffs.

Cheers, tears & virals: The RCB moments everyone talked about this season

Virat Kohli has etched his name in T20 cricket history, now holding the record for the most 50-plus partnerships. This latest milestone was achieved during the IPL 2026 match against Sunrisers Hyderabad, where he and Venkatesh Iyer forged another significant opening stand. Kohli's remarkable consistency continues to set new benchmarks in the sport.

Cricket star Virat Kohli, a known Cristiano Ronaldo fan, celebrated a crucial wicket with the Portuguese footballer's iconic 'SIUUU' during RCB's Qualifier 1 win. This isn't the first time Kohli has paid tribute to his idol on the field, having previously performed the celebration in other major tournaments.

Michael Vaughan has advised Jacob Bethell to return to England from the IPL due to injury concerns and limited playing time with Royal Challengers Bengaluru. Vaughan believes Bethell should prioritize his recovery and England's upcoming Test series against New Zealand, especially with a national training camp starting soon.

Sunrisers Hyderabad and Royal Challengers Bengaluru are set to battle for the top two spots in the playoffs. Hyderabad, currently third, aims to avenge their season opener loss and finish strong. RCB, leading the table, seeks to secure the top position with a win. Both teams boast formidable batting lineups, promising an exciting encounter.

Rasikh Salam Dar's fiery yorker dismantled Travis Head's stumps, igniting a passionate celebration from the young pacer and a pumped-up Virat Kohli. Head's aggressive 26 off 16 balls ended abruptly, giving RCB a crucial breakthrough. Defending champions RCB, already playoff-bound in IPL 2026, faced Sunrisers Hyderabad in a key clash.

Sunrisers Hyderabad pacer Sakib Hussain called Virat Kohli’s wicket a dream moment after SRH’s 55-run win over RCB in IPL 2026, saying, “Maza toh aya”. The young Bihar bowler now has 15 wickets in 10 matches. SRH posted 255/4 through strong knocks from Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan and Heinrich Klaasen. Despite the loss, RCB still finished top of the league table.

Rajat Patidar has etched his name in IPL history, surpassing Chris Gayle for the third-fastest batter to 100 sixes. Achieving this milestone in just 933 deliveries, Patidar showcased his power-hitting prowess during a challenging chase against Sunrisers Hyderabad. His impactful innings, including a crucial six that secured RCB's top-two finish, highlights his growing importance for the team.

Defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru secured a playoff spot with a dominant 23-run victory over Punjab Kings in Dharamsala. Virat Kohli's energetic performance, coupled with crucial knocks from Devdutt Padikkal and Venkatesh Iyer, propelled RCB to a commanding total. Bhuvneshwar Kumar's early wickets stifled Punjab's chase, highlighting RCB's championship mettle.

Rajat Patidar's explosive unbeaten 93 off 33 balls powered Royal Challengers Bengaluru to a commanding 254/5, the highest IPL playoff total ever. RCB then bowled out Gujarat Titans for 162, securing a dominant 92-run victory and their second consecutive IPL final appearance.

Gujarat Titans will bowl first against Royal Challengers Bengaluru in IPL 2026 Qualifier 1. The winner directly enters the final. Gujarat Titans made one change to their team. Royal Challengers Bengaluru also made changes for the knockout clash. Both teams aim for a strong performance to secure a spot in the final.

Irfan Pathan commented on the Virat Kohli-Travis Head on-field spat, stating Kohli embraces an "Australian-style intensity." The exchange, which saw Kohli ignore Head during the post-match handshake, occurred during a high-pressure IPL match where Sunrisers Hyderabad defeated Royal Challengers Bengaluru.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru is at the forefront with an impressively balanced lineup, driven by the experience of its star players. Close behind, Gujarat Titans showcases a disciplined team, highlighting their steady openers and robust bowling prowess. Sunrisers Hyderabad, with their explosive batting setup and striking pace bowlers, promises to be a formidable contender.

The scoreboard said Royal Challengers Bengaluru needed 256 to beat Sunrisers Hyderabad, but the chase carried another set of numbers. SRH needed to restrict RCB below 165 to force their way into the top two, while the visitors had to protect their net run rate to stay ahead of Gujarat Titans.

Sunrisers Hyderabad's explosive batting secured a 55-run victory over Royal Challengers Bengaluru. Despite the loss, RCB clinched the top spot in the league table, powered by stellar performances from Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan, and Heinrich Klaasen. RCB's chase, though falling short of the target, successfully achieved their crucial goal of crossing 166 runs to secure a top-two playoff finish.

Sunrisers Hyderabad captain Pat Cummins won the toss and chose to bat against Royal Challengers Bengaluru in their IPL 2026 playoff clash. Both teams have already secured their playoff berths. Cummins expressed a desire to test strategies and enjoy the game before the serious business of the finals begins. Rajat Patidar returns to captain RCB.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Gujarat Titans face off in IPL 2026 Qualifier 1 in Dharamsala, with a direct final spot at stake. Both teams finished level on points and have identical 4-4 head-to-head records. RCB rely on batting depth, while GT bank on their top-order stars and bowling attack. Key battles include Bhuvneshwar Kumar against GT’s top three and Rashid Khan’s middle-over impact.

IPL auctions are often won on perception in December, but the real story usually emerges months later. While franchises splashed massive sums on Cameron Green, Matheesha Pathirana and Liam Livingstone, the smartest buys of IPL 2026 quietly came from the Rs 7-9 crore bracket. Jason Holder topped the charts by a distance, Josh Inglis maximised limited opportunities, and Ravi Bishnoi delivered steady returns. Meanwhile, several marquee signings struggled with injuries, poor form and role mismatches, turning auction-night hype into underwhelming seasons.

IPL auctions are often won on perception in December, but the real story usually emerges months later. While franchises splashed massive sums on Cameron Green, Matheesha Pathirana and Liam Livingstone, the smartest buys of IPL 2026 quietly came from the Rs 7-9 crore bracket. Jason Holder topped the charts by a distance, Josh Inglis maximised limited opportunities, and Ravi Bishnoi delivered steady returns. Meanwhile, several marquee signings struggled with injuries, poor form and role mismatches, turning auction-night hype into underwhelming seasons.