RCB had Rajit Patidar and Krunal Pandya in the middle after the first six overs.
The Royals, who won the toss and chose to bowl first, had two successful bowlers, Jofra Archer and Ravi Bishnoi.
Archer helped the hosts to keep the visitors in check with two wickets. The pacer dislodged his countryman, Phil Salt, with the first delivery of the contest, and then undid Devdutt Padikkal in the third over.
Ravi Bishnoi brought cheer to the Guwahati faithful with Kohli’s dismissal in the penultimate over of the powerplay.