The Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) will take on the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in the opening match of IPL 2026 at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru, on Saturday, March 28.
RCB enter the season as defending champions and will aim to carry forward their winning momentum. The team has retained its core squad while strengthening with key additions like Venkatesh Iyer and New Zealand pacer Jacob Duffy.
SRH, on the other hand, have been one of the most exciting teams in recent IPL seasons. Their aggressive style of cricket earned them a place in the 2024 final. For IPL 2026, they have bolstered their lineup with England all-rounder Liam Livingstone along with promising Indian talents Salil Arora and Shivang Kumar.
Team News
Both sides will miss their premier Australian fast bowlers at the start of the season. Josh Hazlewood is unavailable for the initial matches, while SRH captain Pat Cummins is expected to miss the first half of the tournament due to injury.
In Cummins’ absence, Ishan Kishan is likely to lead SRH, with Abhishek Sharma as his deputy. Kishan comes in strong form after an impressive domestic season and a solid T20 World Cup campaign. Meanwhile, Rajat Patidar continues as RCB captain, aiming to guide his side to back-to-back titles.
Match Details
- Match: RCB vs SRH, Match 1, IPL 2026
- Venue: M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru
- Date & Time: March 28, 2026, 7:30 PM (IST)
- Broadcast: JioStar Network, JioHotstar
Head-to-Head Record
- Matches Played: 26
- RCB Wins: 11
- SRH Wins: 10
- No Result/Tie: 1
Pitch Report – Bengaluru
The M. Chinnaswamy Stadium is widely regarded as a batting-friendly venue due to its flat pitch and short boundaries. While batters enjoy the conditions, seamers may get early assistance with the new ball. Dew could play a role later in the game, although recent measures have reduced its overall impact, giving bowlers a fair chance in the second innings as well.
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