India, April 24 -- Dropping Virat Kohli three balls into the innings can be an ominous sign, especially at a ground like Chinnaswamy where 205/3 isn't exactly a menacing score.

Predictably, Kohli made Gujarat Titans pay heavily for that mistake, anchoring the chase with an 81 off 44 balls that guided Royal Challengers Bengaluru to a five-wicket win on Friday, moving them to second on the IPL points table. Leading the demolition was Devdutt Padikkal, whose 27-ball 55 put to shade a resplendent 58-ball hundred from Sai Sudharsan before RCB lost a cluster of wickets

By the time Rashid Khan bowled Padikkal with a googly, the second-wicket stand between him and Kohli had fetched 115 runs in just 59 balls. Opening his account with a six whipp...