The excitement surrounding the Indian Premier League (IPL) has finally reached its peak. In the opening match of IPL 2026, the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) captain Rajat Patidar has won the toss and decided to bowl first at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru. With stars like Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan, Heinrich Klaasen, Virat Kohli, and Phil Salt in the lineup, the match is set to be a thrilling high-scoring affair. After the toss, Patidar expressed, “We’ll bowl first. We have many positives from last year, but this season we aim to reclaim the championship. Our squad is filled with talented players, and we have solid backups for every role. There’s also a strong support and medical team. Everyone is fit and eager for this game. Thank you for your unwavering support. We’re determined to earn a second star on our jersey. Two new players, Jacob Duffy and Abhinandan Singh, will be making their debuts today.”
Patidar and his team will be riding high on confidence after clinching the title last season, eager to kick off their title defense with a win against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH). In a heartfelt gesture, all RCB players will wear black armbands in memory of fans who tragically lost their lives in a stampede outside the stadium following their historic title victory last year. Moreover, eleven seats in the stadium will remain empty as a lasting tribute to these supporters.
SRH’s regular captain Pat Cummins is sidelined due to injury, prompting the management to appoint Ishan Kishan as the interim captain, with Abhishek Sharma serving as his deputy. Kishan commented on the pitch, “It looks like a fresh wicket; batting or bowling first doesn’t make a difference. We just need to execute our plans. Everyone is looking good.”
Kishan’s leadership will be closely watched, especially as he enters the IPL after a successful T20 World Cup 2026, where he played a pivotal role for Team India.
Confirmed Playing XI for IPL 2026: Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Sunrisers Hyderabad:
Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Phil Salt, Virat Kohli, Rajat Patidar (C), Jitesh Sharma (WK), Tim David, Romario Shepherd, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Abhinandan Singh, Jacob Duffy, Suryash Sharma.
Sunrisers Hyderabad: Abhishek Sharma, Travis Head, Ishan Kishan (C) (WK), Heinrich Klaasen, Aniket Verma, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Salil Arora, Harsh Dubey, Harshal Patel, Jaydev Unadkar, Eshan Malinga.