The Indian Premier League 2026 is set to kick off in style as defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru take on Sunrisers Hyderabad in the tournament opener at the iconic M Chinnaswamy Stadium on Saturday.
RCB will be eager to begin their title defence on a winning note, but the absence of star pacer Josh Hazlewood could pose a significant challenge. Although Hazlewood has joined the squad, he is expected to miss the initial phase of the tournament due to injury concerns.
Strong Core, New Additions for RCB
The Bengaluru-based franchise has retained the core of its championship-winning squad and bolstered it with key signings, including Venkatesh Iyer and New Zealand pacer Jacob Duffy.
The spotlight will once again be on the explosive opening pair of Virat Kohli and Phil Salt. Kohli, a long-standing pillar of RCB, will look to deliver another prolific season, while Salt’s aggressive approach at the top adds early momentum.
New recruit Venkatesh Iyer is expected to slot in at No. 3, followed by captain Rajat Patidar at No. 4. The middle order boasts firepower with Jitesh Sharma and Tim David, who can accelerate the scoring in crucial phases.
All-rounders Krunal Pandya and Romario Shepherd will play vital roles, especially given their strong performances last season.
Bowling Concerns and Impact Options
In the bowling department, experienced pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar is expected to lead the attack, alongside Suyash Sharma and Jacob Duffy. Young left-arm pacer Mangesh Yadav could be used as an Impact Player option.
On the other hand, SRH will also miss their pace spearhead Pat Cummins, who is sidelined with a back injury.
Match Details
- Match: RCB vs SRH, IPL 2026 Opener
- Date: March 28, Saturday
- Time: 7:30 PM IST
- Venue: M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru
- Live Telecast: Star Sports Network
- Live Streaming: JioHotstar
Head-to-Head Record
Sunrisers Hyderabad hold a slight edge in this rivalry, winning 13 of the 26 encounters, while RCB have secured 11 victories. However, at the Chinnaswamy Stadium, RCB have dominated with 5 wins in 8 matches.
One of the most memorable clashes came in 2024, when SRH posted the highest total in IPL history, with RCB putting up a spirited chase in a record-breaking, high-scoring encounter.
Predicted Playing XI – RCB
Phil Salt, Virat Kohli, Venkatesh Iyer, Rajat Patidar (C), Jitesh Sharma, Tim David, Krunal Pandya, Romario Shepherd, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Suyash Sharma, Jacob Duffy
