The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 kicked off with a high-octane explosive encounter at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium on Saturday. In a classic ‘Southern Derby’ between Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), the fans were treated to a spectacle of power-hitting and world-class fielding. While the scoreboard reflected a dominant 6-wicket victory for RCB, the defining moment of the match was a piece of fielding brilliance by Phil Salt that left the cricketing world in awe.
Phil Salt’s one-handed stunner ends Ishan Kishan’s threat in RCB vs SRH game
Sunrisers Hyderabad, led by captain Ishan Kishan, looked set for a massive total despite losing early wickets. Kishan was in a murderous mood, shifting the momentum with a blistering 80 off just 38 deliveries, peppered with 8 fours and 5 towering sixes. However, the game changed in the 16th over.
Facing Abhinandan Singh, Kishan looked to capitalize on a low full toss outside off-stump. He carved the ball with immense power toward the deep backward point boundary. It looked like a certain four until Salt intervened. Racing to his right, Salt launched himself parallel to the turf, plucking the ball out of the air with his right hand in one fluid motion.
The commentary box erupted as Salt completed what many are already calling the ‘Catch of the Tournament.’ This dismissal was the turning point, breaking SRH’s back just as they looked to cross the 220-run mark. SRH eventually finished at 201/9, thanks to a disciplined spell from Jacob Duffy (3/22), who was later named Player of the Match.
Here’s the video:
𝐒𝐓𝐎𝐏 𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐘𝐎𝐔 𝐀𝐑𝐄 𝐃𝐎𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐖𝐀𝐓𝐂𝐇 𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐒! 🛑
🎥 Phil Salt with an absolute one-handed screamer at the ropes 🫡
Do we already have the Catch of the Season on Day 1 of #TATAIPL 2026 🤔
Updates ▶️ https://t.co/Eo5z0jh4K4 #KhelBindaas | #RCBvSRH |… pic.twitter.com/pPax3pVNt9
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) March 28, 2026
Also WATCH: Jacob Duffy folds both SRH openers Abhishek Sharma and Travis Head in single over during IPL 2026 opener
Virat Kohli and Devdutt Padikkal masterclass leads RCB to a record chase in IPL history
Chasing a target of 202 in Bengaluru is never easy, but RCB’s top order made it look like a walk in the park. Despite losing Salt early in the second over, the veteran Virat Kohli joined forces with the returning Devdutt Padikkal to dismantle the SRH bowling attack.
The duo shared a century stand that effectively killed the contest. Padikkal was the early aggressor, racing to a half-century in just 21 balls. He finished with a magnificent 61 off 26 balls, striking at a phenomenal rate of 234.61. His innings included 6 fours and 4 sixes, providing the perfect platform for the chase.
At the other end, Kohli played the anchor-turned-aggressor role to perfection. Kohli remained unbeaten on 69 off 38 balls, guiding the team home with 26 balls to spare. His calculated assault, featuring 4 fours and 5 sixes, ensured there were no late hiccups after a double-strike by SRH’s David Payne in the 13th over. With this win, RCB has signaled their intent for the 2026 season, combining clinical bowling with a relentless batting display that left the Sunrisers searching for answers.
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