RCB vs LSG TATA IPL 2026 : The M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, often regarded as a nightmare for bowlers, became the stage for a bowling clinic tonight as Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) outclassed the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in Match 23 of TATA IPL 2026. In a clinical display of local dominance, the Bengaluru-based franchise restricted a star-studded Lucknow lineup to a sub-par total before chasing it down with nearly five overs to spare, sending a loud message to the rest of the league.
The victory was built on the back of a sensational spell by young pace sensation Rasikh Salam Dar, whose four-wicket burst effectively broke the back of the LSG batting order. Following the bowling masterclass, the legendary Virat Kohli anchored the chase with typical poise, allowing the middle-order power hitters to finish the job in a hurry and significantly boost RCB’s Net Run Rate.
RCB vs LSG TATA IPL 2026 Match Overview: Bengaluru’s Bowling Might Shines at Home
Final Score:
LSG: 146/10 (20 Overs)
RCB: 149/5 (15.1 Overs)
Result: Royal Challengers Bengaluru won by 5 wickets.
Man of the Match: Rasikh Salam Dar (4/24).
After winning the toss and electing to bowl first, RCB captain Rajat Patidar entrusted his veteran pacers to find early movement. While the surface didn’t offer excessive swing, the discipline from Josh Hazlewood (1/20) and Bhuvneshwar Kumar (3/27) kept the pressure high. However, the game truly shifted in the middle overs when Rasikh Salam Dar was introduced. Rasikh dismantled the Lucknow core, removing Aiden Markram, Ayush Badoni, and the lower-order resistance to finish with 4/24. Despite Mitchell Marsh’s patient 40 and a fighting 39 from Mukul Choudhary, LSG was bundled out for a mere 146 in 20 overs.
The target of 147 was never going to be enough to defend at the Chinnaswamy. Although Phil Salt fell early to the swing of Prince Yadav, Virat Kohli (49 off 34) and Rajat Patidar (27 off 13) ensured the scoreboard kept ticking at a furious pace. Jitesh Sharma added a quick-fire 23 before Tim David and Romario Shepherd applied the finishing touches. RCB crossed the line in just 15.1 overs, clinching the match by 5 wickets and securing two vital points.
Detailed Player-to-Player Performance (Scorecard Toolbar)
1st Innings: Lucknow Super Giants (146 All Out in 20 Overs)
Batting Performance
| Batter | Dismissal | R | B | 4s | 6s | SR |
| Mitchell Marsh | b Krunal Pandya | 40 | 32 | 3 | 2 | 125.00 |
| Aiden Markram | c Padikkal b Rasikh Salam Dar | 12 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 150.00 |
| Rishabh Pant (c) | c Salt b Bhuvneshwar | 1 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 16.67 |
| Nicholas Pooran | b Josh Hazlewood | 1 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 14.29 |
| Ayush Badoni | c Jitesh b Rasikh Salam Dar | 38 | 24 | 4 | 1 | 158.33 |
| Abdul Samad | c Patidar b Krunal Pandya | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Mukul Choudhary (wk) | b Rasikh Salam Dar | 39 | 28 | 3 | 2 | 139.29 |
| George Linde | c David b Bhuvneshwar | 7 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 100.00 |
| Mohammed Shami | b Bhuvneshwar | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Avesh Khan | b Rasikh Salam Dar | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 50.00 |
| Digvesh Singh Rathi | not out | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Extras | (b 1, lb 2, w 4) | 7 |
Bowling Performance (RCB)
| Bowler | O | M | R | W | NB | WD | ECO |
| Rasikh Salam Dar | 4.0 | 0 | 24 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 6.00 |
| Josh Hazlewood | 4.0 | 0 | 20 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 5.00 |
| Bhuvneshwar Kumar | 4.0 | 0 | 27 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 6.75 |
| Suyash Sharma | 4.0 | 0 | 34 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8.50 |
| Krunal Pandya | 4.0 | 0 | 38 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 9.50 |
2nd Innings: Royal Challengers Bengaluru (149/5 in 15.1 Overs)
Batting Performance
| Batter | Dismissal | R | B | 4s | 6s | SR |
| Philip Salt | b Prince Yadav | 7 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 87.50 |
| Virat Kohli | c Pooran b Avesh Khan | 49 | 34 | 6 | 1 | 144.12 |
| Devdutt Padikkal | c (sub) b Avesh Khan | 10 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 90.91 |
| Rajat Patidar (c) | c Rathi b Prince Yadav | 27 | 13 | 1 | 3 | 207.69 |
| Jitesh Sharma (wk) | c Choudhary b Prince Yadav | 23 | 9 | 2 | 2 | 255.56 |
| Tim David | not out | 14 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 175.00 |
| Romario Shepherd | not out | 14 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 175.00 |
| Extras | (lb 4, w 1) | 5 |
Bowling Performance (LSG)
| Bowler | O | M | R | W | NB | WD | ECO |
| Avesh Khan | 4.0 | 0 | 23 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 5.75 |
| George Linde | 1.1 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7.71 |
| Mohammed Shami | 3.0 | 0 | 30 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10.00 |
| Prince Yadav | 3.0 | 0 | 32 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 10.67 |
| Digvesh Singh Rathi | 4.0 | 0 | 51 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12.75 |
Match Highlights: The Key Defining Moments
1. Rasikh Salam Dar’s Tactical Perfection
Rasikh Salam Dar’s rise in this tournament has been meteoric, and tonight was his crowning jewel. On a deck where the ball was coming on nicely, he used his pace-off variations and pinpoint yorkers to keep the LSG batters guessing. Removing a set Ayush Badoni just as he began to look dangerous (38 off 24) prevented LSG from reaching that critical 170-run mark. His spell of 4/24 effectively suffocated the Lucknow middle order.
2. The Failure of the LSG Top-Order Stars
Lucknow’s batting card tells a story of “what could have been.” Rishabh Pant (1) and Nicholas Pooran (1) both fell for single digits, leaving Mitchell Marsh to play a lone-hand defensive role for much of the first ten overs. Without the explosive starts that have become their trademark, LSG was forced to retreat into a shell, allowing RCB’s spinners, particularly Krunal Pandya, to bowl with freedom.
3. Kohli’s “Anchor-Aggressor” Masterclass
Chasing 147 is often when teams can become complacent. Virat Kohli ensured that wouldn’t happen. His 49-run knock was a lesson in modern T20 batting—finding gaps for fours while keeping the scoreboard moving with high-speed doubles. By the time he was dismissed, RCB needed less than a run a ball, allowing Rajat Patidar and Jitesh Sharma to play with absolute abandon. Patidar’s strike rate of 207 and Jitesh’s 255 were the results of the platform Kohli built.
4. Prince Yadav’s Valiant Resistance
If there was any hope for LSG during the second innings, it came from Prince Yadav. He bowled with great heart, picking up three crucial wickets to briefly stall the RCB train. His ability to remove the likes of Salt, Patidar, and Jitesh showed that he has the temperament for the big stage, even if the target was ultimately too small to defend.
Strategic Analysis: Why RCB Won
Home Ground Knowledge: RCB’s bowlers used the Chinnaswamy’s unique dimensions better than their opponents. They bowled wider lines, forcing LSG to hit to the longer boundaries.
Aggressive Chase Mindset: Knowing that Net Run Rate (NRR) will be vital in the final stages of IPL 2026, RCB didn’t just look to win; they looked to finish early. Scoring at nearly 10 runs per over throughout the chase was a statement of intent.
Bowling Depth: Having Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Josh Hazlewood as the primary attack allows young bowlers like Rasikh to attack without the fear of leaking runs at the other end.
Conclusion: A Night of Redemption for the Challengers
Royal Challengers Bengaluru has firmly entrenched themselves in the top half of the table with this 5-wicket thrashing. For Lucknow, this is a moment for introspection. Their reliance on 1-2 players to do the heavy lifting in the batting department has been exposed by a disciplined RCB unit. As the tournament progresses, the form of Rasikh Salam Dar and the consistency of Virat Kohli make RCB a terrifying prospect for any opponent.
Stay tuned for tomorrow’s blockbuster match as the Mumbai Indians take on the Punjab Kings at the Wankhede Stadium. Can MI bounce back after their recent struggles? We’ll have all the analysis right here!