RCB vs LSG Match 23 Commentary - Bengaluru (15 April 2026)

FOUR! That's it, it's all over. George Linde bowls it slow and short, wide outside off. Romario Shepherd camps back and scythes the cut shot to the right of backward point and ends proceedings with a boundary. Royal Challengers Bengaluru win by 5 wickets and 29 balls to spare.

On a good length, around off, slanting it in. Shepherd gets forward and drives it towards mid off.

Oh, a bit of yes and no between the batters, but the fumble from the fielder lets the batters off the hook again. Good length on off, Shepherd nudges it to the right of point and looks for the single. Abdul Samad moves to his right but fails to pick up the ball cleanly and the batters eventually backtrack and not go for the single.

Back of a length and outside off, Shepherd glides the ball off the face of the ball and behind point for a single.

Pitched fuller on middle, David clears the front leg but fails to get under the ball and drills it down to long off for just one more.

SIX! Shepherd wants to end proceedings in this over itself. Slower ball, on a length and around off, Romario Shepherd reads it early, waits for it and powers it across and over wide long on for a biggie. Just 3 needed for the win now.

Full and straight, gets it full enough, does Avesh. Shepherd drives it to long off for a single. Still, 2 needed for the win for RCB.

The googly at 89.4 kph, around off and short. Romario Shepherd camps back and punches it through the vacant cover region for a single.

Pushed full and on leg, clipped gently to mid-wicket.

Slows it up and slides it onto the pads. David gets on the front foot to push it straight back, but inside edges onto the pads.

 SIX! Hit flat and clean! Overpitched and around off, Tim David reads the googly nicely, gets under it and pumps it behind long off for a cracking six.

 IN THE AIR... PUT DOWN! A top effort, goes in vain. Short ball on middle stump. David rocks back and goes for a big heave towards cow corner, but mistimes and does not have the distance or the power to clear the ropes. Abdul Samad moves to his left from deep mid-wicket, takes the catch while running, but then realises he is going beyond the ropes, so he lobs it up casually towards Markram converging from long on. The timing between the two fielders is completely off, almost as if they’re in different time zones. Markram is nowhere near in a position to complete it as Samad runs over the ropes. Two taken.

 FOUR! Misfield now from Linde. Flicks off the fingers, and lands it short, outside off. Tim David rocks back and executes the cut shot to perfection through the point gap. George Linde runs across to his left from deep cover. Puts in a dive, gets his hands on the ball, but ends up parrying it to the ropes behind.

 SIX! Played with ease and at will! Prince fires it full in length, just outside off. Patidar stays put, and just lets his hands through the shot. Launches it over wide long off fence for half a dozen runs.

OUT! STRAIGHT UP THE CHIMNEY AND TAKEN! An enterprising knock from Patidar comes to an end. Spears it full and on the stumps, does Prince. Rajat Patidar clears the front leg and looks to dump it behind deep mid-wicket, but only manages to get a thick top edge. The ball spoons high up in the night sky and swirls while descending. Digvesh Singh calls for his catch, moves to his right from cover and settles under it to take a fine catch. Royal Challengers Bengaluru are 121/4, needing only 26 runs from 46 balls.

At the stumps, full, David works it to long on for a single.

OUT! EDGED AND GONE! Double strike by Prince as Jitesh bites the dust. Is there any twist left? Back of a length on a fourth stump line, jagging back in. Jitesh gets half forward and swings hard to go big down the ground, but only manages a faint outside edge. Mukul Choudhary gathers it safely in his gloves, goes up in an appeal instantly, joined by Prince Yadav, and the umpire raises the finger. RCB are 122/5, chasing 147.

Back of a length and on the pads. Shepherd rides the bounce and steers it to the deep square leg region for a single.

Low full toss, on off, David drives it straight to short cover.

Drops it short, on the stumps. Patidar camps back and eases it down to long on for an easy run.

Short again, outside off. Jitesh rocks back and punches it wide of cover. Mitchell Marsh runs to his left from deep point and fumbles to pick it up cleanly. Two taken.

 SIX! Just over! Pitched full and around off. Jitesh Sharma takes the front foot forward, and lofts it inside out over the extra cover region. Himmat Singh, just for a moment, feels he is in the game, but sees the ball sail over his head. This is the 400th six in this season of the IPL.

 FOUR! Placed to perfection! Not that full and not too short either, somewhere in-between. Jitesh Sharma drops down to one knee and sweeps it behind square on the leg side for four more runs.

 SIX! Jitesh in a hurry now! Digvesh serves it full and on off. Jitesh Sharma again nails the inside out shot over deep extra cover for a comfortable six more runs.

FOUR! Digvesh is taken to the cleaners! Short and wide, Jitesh Sharma picks the length nicely, goes deep in the crease and cuts it late behind point, beating Mitchell Marsh to his left in the deep for another boundary. 23 runs from this over. A massive one for the hosts.

OUT! TAKEN EASILY! Kohli departs two short of his half century. Nonetheless, a well-compiled knock. Full length around the fourth stump at 133.1 kph, shaping back in a touch. Kohli leans into it, looking to loft it straight over the bowler, but the bat turns in his hands and he miscues it off the inner half. In fact, Kohli didn't complete his follow-through after hitting the shot. The ball goes high towards long on, where Pooran settles under it and completes a safe catch. Avesh has two to his name. Royal Challengers Bengaluru are 86/3, chasing 147 runs.

Back of a length, on off, Sharma rides the bounce and eases it to the point region.

Hard length, over off. Jitesh lets the ball come and dabs it in front of point with soft hands.

Hits the good length, outside off, Jitesh cuts it uppishly over point for a single.

 FOUR! Easily done! Short of a good length, outside off, enough width to work with. Rajat Patidar uses the pace, opens the face of the bat and cuts it late, between and over the keeper and the short third fielder for a boundary.

Hard length, on leg, Patidar knocks it off the back foot through wide mid on for a single. RCB need 55 runs from 54 balls.

Full on middle, Kohli leans on and drives it along the turf to long off for a single.

Flatter on off, stays a tad low, Patidar hops back and cuts it to the right of deep point for one.

Flighted this time, full and outside off, caressed through the cover region for another single.

Linde goes quicker and bangs it into the pitch, taking a leaf out of Krunal Pandya's book, perhaps. This is short and around off, Patidar clubs it without much timing over mid off and gets a single.

Fuller this time, fired in a bit and just outside off. Kohli camps back and taps it down to point.

Slightly short on middle, pulled down to long on for a single. RCB are 86/2 after 10 overs, in a chase of 147 runs.

That surprised Kohli. A quick bumper from Shami, actually, it is a cross-seamer as well and the ball climbs up quickly. Kohli looks to pull but is well beaten.

Shortish length, on the pads, nudged down through backward square leg for one.

Fuller this time, on middle, Patidar punches it across to short mid-wicket.

SIX! Picked up and dispatched. Slower ball, just too full, though. Patidar waits well before laying into the lofted shot and launching it over long on for a biggie.

SIX! It's been nearly impossible to tie down Rajat Patidar this season. Shami goes short and directs it in towards the batter's face. However, Patidar rides the bounce well, uses those quick hands and clobbers the pull shot over backward square leg for another biggie. This is Patidar's 20th six this season, the most by any batter so far (shown on the on-air graphic).

Pitched up fuller on off and middle, punched back straight to the bowler with the full face of the bat.

Back of a length from Avesh, following the batter towards the leg side. Kohli gets cramped for room as he tries to come forward and plays it through mid on for one.

OUT! CAUGHT! A well-directed short ball from Avesh Khan and the 57-run stand is broken. Avesh comes around the wicket and hammers the shorter length, angling the ball into the body of the batter. Devdutt Padikkal tries to rock back and pull but the ball gets big on him and he forces the pull shot aerially over square leg. The ball goes straight to the substitute fielder, Himmat Singh, at deep square leg, and he makes no mistake. 81 more needed off 76 balls.

Nicely bowled. Good length in the channel, seams away after pitching as well. Rajat Patidar plays inside the line of the ball and gets beaten past the outside edge.

Straighter in line this time, worked away on the leg side for a single.

Back of a length and outside off, Kohli looks to slap it through covers, but the ball doesn't quite come onto the bat, and Kohli chops it into the turf.

Slower ball, wide outside off, Kohli has to wait for it before he reaches out and taps it in front of point for just a single.

Dropped shorter and angled into the batter, Kohli rocks back to pull but snatches at it and mistimes it through square leg for a single.

Quicker through the air, angled across off, Padikkal backs away and smacks it through the point region for one more.

Oh, a better throw and Kohli was a goner! Fuller one on off, Kohli blocks it to the left of cover and sets off for the single. Padikkal sends him back but VK is almost halfway down the track when he turns back. Nicholas Pooran is the one who gets to the ball but fires in a wide throw at the keeper's end as Kohli dives in to safety.

In and around off, nudged away with soft hands and past point for a run.

Full and on leg stump, Padikkal goes on one knee, sweeping it towards deep backward square leg for a run.

Flatter one on off and middle, swatted down to long on, off the back foot and for just another single.

Another misfield and the batters pinch an extra run. Bowled back of a length and outside off, smacked down back past the bowler, but without much timing. Nicholas Pooran at mid off runs to his right and dives but fumbles the ball away and concedes the second run.

Shorter this time, over middle, Kohli swivels back to pull it away towards deep square leg for a single.

Good-length delivery, angled into the off pole from around the wicket. Padikkal tucks it down to mid-wicket. Kohli is eager for the single which isn't there and DDP rightly sends him back.

Back of a length, outside off, nudged down to the right of backward point for an easy single. The 50-run stand is also up between these two.

Excellent running yet again. Fuller than a good length, on off and slides onto the bat. Kohli drives it to the cover fielder and scampers through for a run.

A tidy start from Avesh, 5 off his first over and RCB are 60/1 at the end of the Powerplay. Pace off delivery, dug in short and just outside off, Padikkal looks to pull but is undone by the lack of pace.

A drag-downer to start with, on leg. Devdutt pulls it on the bounce to square leg, where Prince Yadav fumbles a bit and allows a single.

 SIX! Goodness gracious, that is such a magnificent shot! Googly from Digvesh, on off, on a length. Virat Kohli picks the length and variation very early and camps back before pulling it into the deep mid-wicket region for a big six. 50 UP FOR RCB!

Drags the length back, another googly on middle. Virat Kohli bunts it down to long on for an easy single.

Length ball, on off, Padikkal hangs back and drags it to deep mid-wicket for a single.

The wrong'un, at 96.1 kph, on the stumps. Virat Kohli gets squared up and tucks it to the mid on region.

Around off, on a good length, Kohli punches the googly to the right of the mid off fielder and sprints for a single. 10 runs from the over, 27 from the last 2 overs for RCB.

 FOUR! Into the gap and in complete control! Way too short by Prince, on top of middle. Kohli takes a baby-step in front, and pulls it over mid-wicket for a cracking four.

Misses this time around. A slight appeal for caught behind, but only the keeper, Mukul Choudhary, is interested. Back of a length and it stops on the surface, on leg. Virat Kohli is tucked up for room but goes for the pull shot. It stays a tad low and beats the inside edge.

 FOUR! Right out of the coach's manual! Short of a good length, outside off. Virat Kohli uses the width, rises on the toes and knocks it with pure timing over the point fielder for another boundary. Kohli moves to 20 off 10.

Slightly pitched up, on off, nips back in a bit. Kohli gets well forward and blocks it off.

 FOUR! Helped away! Loosener from Prince. Short and at the ribs of the batter. Virat Kohli gets inside the line, uses the pace and pulls it to the left of the short fine leg fielder for a boundary. Virat was onto it in a flash.

WIDE! Down leg, straightish delivery, on a length. Kohli misses the flick shot.

 FOUR! Not sure if he timed well, but still a calculated shot over the inner ring. Full now, outside off at 137.8 kph. Virat Kohli comes walking down the track and lofts it over the cover fielder and it races away to the fence for four more runs. Four number six for Kohli so far. 17 runs off the over. 

 FOUR LEG BYES! Goes very fine! Back of a length, on the pads. Kohli looks to tickle it behind but the ball goes off the thigh pad and squirrels away to the deep fine leg fence.

 FOUR! Kohli getting a move on! Much fuller than the previous ball, on off, Virat stays in the crease, brings his wrists in play and whips it across to the deep square leg region. George Linde rushes across to his left, slides to flick the ball back in, but his knee gets stuck in the outfield and the ball evades him into the fence.

 FOUR! All class! That's a Kohli special which gets the crowd go bonkers. Hard length and outside off. Virat Kohli shows patience for the ball to come at him, rides the bounce and slaps it over the wide cover fielder for a cracking boundary.

Attacks the stumps, on leg. Kohli tucks it to the square leg region for an easy single.

Around the stump now. Hits the length hard, outside off, shaping away at 142.3 kph. Devdutt Padikkal camps back and cuts it to Linde at deep backward point for a run.

Almost a yorker, on the toes, Kohli flicks it behind square on the leg side for a single. A very profitable over for the Royal Challengers. 15 runs from it.

Length delivery outside off, this is guided with an open bat face to deep backward point for a single.

Back of a length, on leg. Salt mistimes the pull shot to deep backward square leg for a couple of runs.

BEAUTY! Angles in and then straightens from the hard length, over off. Phil Salt loosely wafts at it and is beaten all ends up on the outside edge.

OUT! BOWLED'EM! Prince Yadav continues to impress this season and knocks Salt's off pole. Hits the deck hard, around off and it skids through the surface, nipping in a touch too. Salt is rushed on the back foot, trying to play the pull shot but misses it behind, and the off pole goes cartwheeling. RCB are 9/1, chasing a target of 147 runs.

 FOUR! Elegance personified! A little bit fuller, swinging in from middle to leg. Devdutt Padikkal flicks it off the pads to deep backward square leg for a boundary to get off the mark.

Nagging length, around off, at 137 kph. Devdutt Padikkal is a bit late to play the cut shot and chops it to the point region.

 Swing straightaway! Shapes away from the right-hander, full and outside off. Phil Salt does not move his feet much and tries to crash it past covers, but misses as the ball zips past his outside edge.

This time, it tails back into the batter, short on leg. Phil Salt is a bit squared up and tucks it to square leg.

 FOUR! Off the mark with a cracking shot! Shami offers width this time and the ball is a lot straighter as well. Short outside off. Phil Salt has enough time in the world to get on the back foot. Nails the square cut to deep point for a boundary.

 BEATEN! Hard length, shaping away from outside off, with extra bit of bounce. Salt stays back, attempts to knife it behind point but the ball whistles over his angled bat.

Back of a length, around off, at 137.6 kph, swinging away. Salt presses back and knocks it to the left of cover. Pooran dives to cut it off. Good stop. Just a single.

 Oh, goodness me! This could have been terrible for RCB. An outgoing delivery, full and around off. Kohli presses forward and bunts it to the point region and is off for a single. He is more than halfway through but Salt is parked at the other end and sends him back on a late call. The fielder though, fumbles to collect the ball as it spins past him and eventually allows the batters to cross over.