As IPL 2026 gears up for its grand opening this Saturday, excitement is in the air for the inaugural match between the defending champions, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) at the iconic M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.
In the lead-up to this much-anticipated clash, RCB’s star player, Virat Kohli, took the time to clarify the speculation surrounding his recent haircut. There were whispers suggesting that he chose his new look after viewing AI-generated images of himself. However, during an interview on PUMA India’s New Broadcast Channel, Kohli set the record straight, stating, “No, I was shown the AI pictures after, and I did not do the cut by looking at the pictures.”
At 37, Kohli remains a formidable force, holding the record for the most runs in IPL history. Across 267 matches, he has amassed an impressive 8,661 runs, with his highest score being an unbeaten 113 runs. His accolades also include eight centuries and 63 half-centuries, underscoring his prowess on the field.
With talents like Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan, Travis Head, and Phil Salt in the mix, this opening match is poised to be a thrilling, high-scoring affair. Both teams are ready for battle, with RCB eager to kick off their title defense with a victory. Meanwhile, Ishan Kishan will lead SRH in the absence of their regular captain, Pat Cummins.
**IPL 2026: Full Squads for Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs. Sunrisers Hyderabad**
**Royal Challengers Bengaluru:** Virat Kohli, Josh Hazlewood, Swapnil Singh, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jacob Duffy, Krunal Pandya, Jitesh Sharma (WK), Venkatesh Iyer, Phil Salt (WK), Rajat Patidar (C), Nuwan Thushara, Romario Shepherd, Tim David, Devdutt Padikkal, Yash Dayal, Rasikh Salam, Jordan Cox, Jacob Bethell, Vicky Ostwal, Mangesh Yadav, Suyash Sharma, Vihaan Malhotra, Abhinandan Singh, Kanishk Chouhan, Satvik Deswal.
**Sunrisers Hyderabad:** Harshal Patel, Jaydev Unadkat, Pat Cummins, Heinrich Klaasen (WK), Travis Head, Liam Livingstone, Ishan Kishan (WK), Kamindu Mendis, Brydon Carse, Zeeshan Ansari, Abhishek Sharma, Shivam Mavi, Jack Edwards, Harsh Dubey, Salil Arora (WK), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Amit Kumar, Praful Hinge, Smaran Ravichandran, Eshan Malinga, Sakib Hussain, Aniket Verma, Shivang Kumar, Krains Bhaveshbhai Fuletra, Omkar Tarmale.