MI vs RCB: Virat Kohli, Phil Salt Power Bengaluru to Prestigious Record at Wankhede

Since the start of IPL 2024, no franchise has matched Royal Challengers Bengaluru's mastery at the top of the order. RCB's opening partnerships have raced past fifty runs on 12 occasions, the highest tally in the league.

This remarkable consistency has powered RCB through three seasons, turning potential chases into commanding totals and often deciding games before the middle overs even begin.

On Sunday (April 12), at the Wankhede Stadium, the script continued in style. In the ongoing 20th match against Mumbai Indians, MI won the toss and elected to field first. Yet RCB's openers, Virat Kohli and Phil Salt, tore into the bowling from ball one. In just 10.2 overs, the pair has posted an unbeaten 117-run stand, RCB sitting pretty at 117/0. Salt has been electric, smashing 78 off 35 balls (6 fours, 6 sixes), while Kohli has played the perfect foil with a composed 35 off 27. The stand has already crossed the fifty-run mark with ease, underlining why RCB remain unmatched in this department.

Most 50+ Opening Partnerships

Phil Salt and Virat Kohli have been at the heart of RCB's opening revival with 12 instances of 50+ scores. The numbers tell a story of sustained excellence. Across 2024, 2025 and now 2026, RCB's top-order duo, whether Salt with Kohli or earlier combinations, has repeatedly given the side explosive starts that few attacks can contain. This latest display against a strong MI unit once again highlights the blueprint behind RCB's resurgence.

As the match unfolds, one thing is clear: RCB's opening dominance is no flash in the pan. It is a calculated, season-defining edge. With 12 half-century stands already in the bank and the 13th unfolding live, the Challengers are proving that the best way to chase glory is to begin with a bang.