Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Chennai Super Kings, 11th Match, Indian Premier League 2026 - CommentaryRCB vs CSK, 11th Match, Indian Premier League 2026 - Commentary

The Southern Derby didn't quite live up to the hype. RCB have now won four in a row against their arch-rivals and the 43-run margin is quite big in T20 cricket. Two comprehensive wins in two matches for the defending champions. Mind you, the likes of Jitesh Sharma and Romario Shepherd are yet to bat. CSK, on the other hand, are languishing at the bottom of the table with three successive losses. It's still early days in the tournament and there's ample time for the five-time champions to bounce back. That's it for today. Tune in tomorrow for KKR vs PBKS - two team who've had contrasting starts to their campaign. Until then, goodbye and good night.

RCB defending totals vs CSK
2008-2021: 16 matches, 5 wins, 11 defeats
Since 2022: 6 matches, 5 wins, 1 defeat

Most 200-plus totals in the IPL
37 - CSK
36 - RCB
33 - PBKS
32 - MI
30 - KKR

This is RCB's second-biggest win vs CSK (by runs), after their 50-run victory at Chepauk last year.

Most consecutive wins vs CSK in the IPL
5 - MI (2018-2019)
5 - PBKS (2021-2024)
4 - DC (2020-2021)
4 - RR (2021-2023)
4 - RCB (2024-2026*)

14 different batters hit at least one six in this game, a record in the IPL, bettering 13 each in two other games: DC vs MI, Delhi 2024 and PBKS vs KKR, Indore, 2018.

This is now CSK's second-longest losing streak to kick-off an IPL season; they had started their 2022 campaign with four straight defeats.

Tim David | Player of the Match: "Obviously very pleased. It doesn't always happen that way. You know, the skipper Rajat was absolutely smoking and I was taking balls off him. So to be able to get us to a score and obviously put a lot of pressure on the opposition, it was super fun. (on batting in different positions) I'm lucky. I try I don't change my game too much. I obviously have a period to bat for a little bit longer, but I've got the confidence from all the prep I do to try and play the same way and have the backing from my teammates and the support staff. So, you know, that's really valuable and it helps a lot. And to get the opportunity to bat, it was probably still a similar amount of balls or maybe a few more than I usually would get, but at a similar stage. And then, we get to go out and bat with Jitesh and Sheppy behind me gives you a lot of confidence. Absolutely. It's a lot of the prep we do over here. Very lucky to be able to work with DK. He's obviously an incredibly experienced player in these conditions. And, we're working on lots of different stuff. You still keep your basics that you build your strength around and then you try and improve. So, I've been in the IPL a few years now. And I think that you also with that prep and that time, you don't put as much pressure on yourself to perform. So try and enjoy it on the good days. And obviously there's going to be some bad ones, but that's, that's the game. And especially when we try and play high-risk attacking cricket. (on his 106m six) Yeah, I've been getting in trouble with training the boys. We have competitions to try and hit them on the roof and we're obviously on the side pitches. So to get one during a match out of the middle is pretty pleasing. And Jamie's bowling quicker at that stage. So, get on the one, help it up on the roof. It's good fun."

Rajat Patidar | RCB captain: "Of course it feels great, but at the same time, if you play a good cricket and it gives a lot of satisfaction among the team. (on the pitch) I think initially the ball was stopping a bit. The way Phil and Virat bhai played an inning, I think that was superb. And after that, the way Tim David, I think I have enjoyed a lot of sixes from the dugout and from the non-striker end. (on accelerating after the 13th over) Yes, I think my mindset was pretty clear. As long as I'm there, I always try to put the pressure on the bowler. And at the same time, I'm lucky that Tim was there. So yeah, as I said, I was enjoying his sixes. (on David) He's a specialist and he's one of the best finishers, I would say. And I think I enjoyed a lot. And he has done last year also. So yeah, I think he's more consistent, if you say, as the best finisher and the more consistent throughout the game and one of the best finisher I've ever seen. (on the 106m six of David) 106m na? Yeah, I was just looking at the ball. (on the bowling) Yeah, I think the way Duffy bowled those outswinger and got three wickets, I think that has put us on the driving seat. And after that, the KP bowled and gave us a breakthrough of Sarfaraz, he was playing well. And in the death overs, the way Bhuvi and Abhinandan bowled those yorkers, I think great to watch. And in between Romario, the way he came in the team in the between and gave that one over, I think that was wonderful team effort from our boys. They are the wicket-taking bowlers. The way Suyash came and bowled those beautiful four overs, I think that was great. And the way, as I mentioned, KP, I think whenever I came under pressure, I always looked to KP. Where is KP? And I have that much belief where I believe in him. (on games going forward) Yeah, I think everyone is looking great and in a good mindset. And everyone is looking forward for the next game."

Bhuvneshwar Kumar: "Good to get the rewards for what you have been doing for years, so yes I mean, happy for that. It was a tricky surface. The way we batted, it looked easy. But when we bowled, there were a few balls which stopped and suddenly there were some shots where you feel like, you know, it's a good wicket to bat on, but still we stick to our basics, what we talked about. I mean, we've been talking about this since last year. So yes, we stuck to that. (on hitting the deck) Yes, I did. And the reason was, I think, more than the wicket, it was the ground which was very heavy. So I was cramping as well. I think that made me to keep the plan simple and I think, yeah, that was the reason. (on their bowling) Yes, we are. And the best thing is that we are sticking to our basics, what we talk about in the meetings, especially against an opponent. So yes, like I said, it's not an easy ground to defend or to bowl, but the way we have been doing things, the way we have been preparing, I think it's coming out well. (on David's knock) Yes, absolutely. I mean, I wasn't sure that we should be happy or we should be worried because we had to bowl next."

Ruturaj Gaikwad | CSK captain: "Well, even I was surprised, to be honest. Great fight by Sarfaraz, Prashant Veer, Jamie Overton, even to some extent Shivam Dube. So I think, maybe I would have, contributed more top of the order, you never know, we would have chased it down. So definitely it's on me today. (on David) Well, you're right, KP. I think, Anshul almost got a wicket of him. Unfortunate to be illegal delivery, but yeah, after that, he just smacked all around the park and, as you rightly said, hats off to him. (on not taking their chances in the field) We would have had, as you rightly said, if we would have taken early chance of Virat Kohli, I think that was, I mean, maybe we would have had momentum to ourselves. But I think, we still had the game in our hands till the 13th, 14th over, and that's when the momentum really shifted."

Chasing a massive score, CSK lost their top three cheaply. While Duffy accounted for the openers, Bhuvi nipped out Ayush Mhatre. Despite that, the visitors scored 77 in the powerplay, thanks to Sarfaraz Khan's counterattacking 24-ball fifty. Krunal removed the half-centurion with his first delivery and then removed Kartik Sharma in the same over. An outstanding one-handed catch from Jitesh Sharma resulted in Dube's downfall. Young Prashant Veer showed his hitting prowess and Jamie Overton played another cameo. But that only helped in reducing the margin of defeat somewhat. Special mention to Suyash Sharma who finished with impressive figures of 1/21 - the most economical bowler. All in all, it was complete all-round performance from the defending champions.

23:15 IST, 17:45 GMT: A convincing win for Royal Challengers Bengaluru! The batters set it up for them. Inserted to bat, not a single boundary was hit in the first 3 overs as stroke-making was difficult on a tacky surface. Kohli was the aggressor in the powerplay. Salt upped the ante after Kohli's dismissal and Devdutt Padikkal scored a classy half-century. But the real carnage took place after DDP's wicket. Tim David joined Rajat Patidar and it was raining sixes. The former got a reprieve and he took full toll of it as he smashed a magnificent 25-ball 70*, including 8 sixes. Patidar too played his part. His 48* off 19 was overshadowed by David.

Abhinandan Singh to Matt Henry, THATS OUT!! Caught!!