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Bengaluru
Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) stormed to the top of the IPL 2026 points table on Wednesday with a commanding five‑wicket win over Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium. Sent in to bat, LSG were bowled out for 146, and RCB chased down the target with 29 balls to spare, jumping to first place with a net run rate of 1.503.
RCB’s pace attack did the bulk of the damage as they restricted LSG for just 146 in 20 overs. Rasikh Salam Dar took a career‑best 4 for 24, supported by Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who claimed 3 for 27. LSG’s batting folded under pressure, with only a few batters touching double figures before the innings ended at 146 for 10.
In reply, RCB opener Virat Kohli struck 49 off 34 balls, including five fours and two sixes, to set up the chase. He now has 228 runs in the season and has taken the Orange Cap from Heinrich Klaasen. Contributions from the middle order meant RCB reached 149 for 5 in 15.1 overs, sealing a comfortable win.
With this victory, RCB have moved to the top of the IPL 2026 points table, underlining their status as one of the strongest contenders for the title. LSG, by contrast, remain stuck in the bottom half after their third loss in five matches, their campaign looking increasingly shaky.
