Kohli gets Bengaluru off to winning start in IPL title defense with 6-wicket victory over Hyderabad

BENGALURU, India (AP) — Star batter Virat Kohli hit 69 not out off 38 balls, including five sixes and five fours, as defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru beat Sunrisers Hyderabad by six wickets in the Indian Premier League season-opener on Saturday.

Devdutt Padikkal smashed a 26-ball 61, with four sixes and seven fours, as Bengaluru raced to 203-4 in 15.4 overs with 26 deliveries to spare.

Earlier, New Zealand pacer Jacob Duffy picked up 3-22 in four overs on his IPL debut as Hyderabad finished with 201-9 in 20 overs. Stand-in skipper Ishan Kishan hit 80 off 38 balls, including five sixes, with Aniket Verma adding an 18-ball 43.

Chasing a par score at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru lost Phil Salt cheaply – out caught for eight.

But impact substitute Padikkal lived up to his role as he raced to 50 off 21 balls. He put on 101 runs off 45 deliveries with Kohli as Bengaluru set a hectic pace in its chase – 76-1 in powerplay and 100 off just 8.1 overs.

Padikkal was caught in the 9th over, but skipper Rajat Patidar didn’t let the momentum slip. He smashed 31 off 12 balls and put on 53 off 22 with Kohli for the third wicket.

Sunrisers’ impact player David Payne struck twice in the 13th over – Patidar and Jitesh Sharma (0) were caught off consecutive deliveries.

But Kohli paced the chase well and Bengaluru was never in serious trouble.

Kohli brought up his 64th IPL half-century off 33 balls to the delight of a packed home ground and then raced to the finish, hitting 18 off Harshal Patel’s four deliveries in the 16th over.

Tim David hit 16 not out off 10 balls, sharing a 40-run unbeaten stand with Kohli off 19 balls.

Put into bat, Hyderabad’s top order struggled against Duffy’s disciplined bowling. Big hitting openers Abhishek Sharma (7) and Travis Head (11) fell cheaply, while Nitish Reddy was out caught for 1.

Hyderabad was 29-3 in 4.2 overs, when Kishan and Heinrich Klaasen came to the rescue with 97 off 53 for the fourth wicket.

Kishan continued his T20 World Cup form to rescue his side, hitting five sixes and eight fours in his 27-ball 50.

Klaasen made 31 off 22, and looked good for more. He was adjudged caught at midwicket off Romario Shepherd. Phil Salt’s catch was reviewed by the third umpire and Klaasen was not pleased with the decision.

Salt pulled another one-handed stunner at the deep point fence – already a contender for catch of the season – as he dived to the right to dismiss Kishan in the 16th over.

With Hyderabad running out of batting, Aniket Verma (43) smacked four sixes and three fours in 18 balls to take his side past the 200 mark.

But it never looked enough against a raging Bengaluru batting side.

AP cricket: https://apnews.com/hub/cricket

Royal Challengers Bengaluru's Virat Kohli, second left, gestures to the fans as he walks out with teammate Tim David after winning the Indian Premier League cricket match against Sunrisers Hyderabad in Bengaluru, India, Saturday, March 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi)

Royal Challengers Bengaluru's Jacob Duffy, second left, celebrates with teammates the wicket of Sunrisers Hyderabad's Travis Head during the Indian Premier League cricket match between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Sunrisers Hyderabad in Bengaluru, India, Saturday, March 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi)

Sunrisers Hyderabad's captain Ishan Kishan plays a shot during the Indian Premier League cricket match between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Sunrisers Hyderabad in Bengaluru, India, Saturday, March 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi)

Royal Challengers Bengaluru's Devdutt Padikkal plays a shot during the Indian Premier League cricket match between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Sunrisers Hyderabad in Bengaluru, India, Saturday, March 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi)

Royal Challengers Bengaluru's Virat Kohli, left, gestures to the fans as he walks out with teammate Tim David after winning the Indian Premier League cricket match against Sunrisers Hyderabad in Bengaluru, India, Saturday, March 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi)

Royal Challengers Bengaluru's Virat Kohli, left, gestures to the fans as he walks out with teammate Tim David after winning the Indian Premier League cricket match against Sunrisers Hyderabad in Bengaluru, India, Saturday, March 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi)

GRAPEVINE, Texas (AP) — Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s was the unofficial guest of honor at the Conservative Political Action Conference, where hundreds of right-wing activists from around the country hailed him as Republicans’ clear choice for U.S. Senate.

He met with supporters behind closed doors, gave the keynote address at the Ronald Reagan dinner and held court during a private reception where people lined up for handshakes and photos. Audiences cheered for Paxton and booed any mention of Sen. John Cornyn, Paxton's opponent in the May 26 runoff.

If Paxton wins the nomination, it will be because of support from his party's fervent grassroots base. That rock-solid foundation rescued Paxton's political career after he was impeached — but acquitted — for corruption charges by the Texas Legislature three years ago.

“I want you to know, there’s only one reason I got through all that, and it’s by the grace of God,” he said in his Friday night speech as a wave of applause rolled through the hall. “He absolutely delivered me, and he used to people of Texas to deliver me."

Neither Paxton nor Cornyn won enough votes in the March 3 primary to clinch the nomination outright. Although Cornyn has raised far more money and is backed by the party establishment in Washington, Paxton’s well-honed survival skills could lead him to victory.

The winner will face Democrat James Talarico, a state lawmaker, in what will be one of the most closely watched Senate races as Republicans try to retain their grip of Congress.

Cornyn did not attend CPAC, which was held at a resort and convention center near Dallas. Paxton was the overwhelming favorite in CPAC's straw poll, beating Cornyn by more than three to one, and he won the organization's endorsement.

President Donald Trump promised that he would endorse either Paxton or Cornyn weeks ago, but no announcement ever came. Paxton, however, has had no trouble proving his bona fides with the party's right wing.

“The real benefit of Paxton is that he is more an ally of Trump,” said Luke Brown, a 21-year-old college student from Amarillo, Texas. “There’s got to be a change for newer conservatives.

He added that, “I have respect for Cornyn. I just think it’s time for someone more conservative.”

Although Cornyn finished first in the primary, which also included Rep. Wesley Hunt, Paxton swiftly appealed to Trump by embracing legislation known as the SAVE Act, which would mean new, strict proof-of-citizenship requirements for voting. The proposal is a priority for the president, but it has stalled in the Senate because Republican leaders do not want to lift the filibuster.

Paxton said he would consider stepping aside if the legislation passed and accused Cornyn of being a “coward." About a week later, Cornyn reversed his position on the filibuster and wrote in an op-ed that “I support whatever changes to Senate rules that may prove necessary.”

Paxton crowed about the shift during his reception on Saturday.

"Unfortunately, John Cornyn has never been focused on this issue until right now, when I called him out on it,” he told supporters.

Cornyn's campaign representatives did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Joe Ropar, a 72-year-old defense contractor who attended CPAC, described Paxton’s ability to preempt Cornyn as “brilliant.”

“Cornyn’s trying to change his stripes now,” Ropar said. “It’s too little too late.”

While Cornyn did not attend CPAC, which was held at a resort and convention center near Dallas, Paxton was extolled by speakers throughout the event.

“Ken Paxton is emblematic of the grassroots of the MAGA movement across the nation,” said Steve Bannon, a former Trump adviser who hosts the “War Room” podcast, referring to Trump's “Make America Great Again” slogan.

Earlier Friday, CPAC senior fellow Mercedes Schlapp polled the crowd. Asking for a show of support for Paxton, there was a roar of cheers. When she asked about Cornyn, there was a light ripple of boos.

Paxton reminded conservatives here of another connection with Trump: They both have portrayed themselves as the victims of political persecution. While Paxton was impeached and acquitted once, Trump went through the process twice during his first term.

Some conservative Republicans hold other grudges against Cornyn. They remember his early criticism of Trump's proposal for a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border in 2016, his co-sponsoring of gun control legislation after the school shooting in Uvalde, Texas, in 2022, and his dismissive remarks about Trump's comeback campaign in 2024.

Retired music teacher Valerie Burge, 58, said she voted for Cornyn in the primary because of his long service.

“But I'm not sure about the runoff,” she said. “It might be time for something new.”

Barbara Palmer, a 65-year-old lawyer, said Cornyn had simply been in office for too long. He has been a judge, state supreme court justice and state attorney general, and now he wants a fifth term as senator.

“It's just time for a change,” Palmer said.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton speaks at the Ronald Reagan dinner during the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Dallas, Friday, March 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Gabriela Passos)

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton speaks at the Ronald Reagan dinner during the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Dallas, Friday, March 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Gabriela Passos)

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton speaks at the Ronald Reagan dinner during the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Dallas, Friday, March 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Gabriela Passos)

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton speaks at the Ronald Reagan dinner during the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Dallas, Friday, March 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Gabriela Passos)

Sen. John Cornyn R-Texas walks through the Capitol Rotunda on Capitol Hill on Friday, March 20, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Tom Brenner)