The excitement for the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) is palpable, with the tournament set to commence on March 28. While only the first 20 matches have been scheduled due to state elections, the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) are gearing up with key players joining the squad. Star players Virat Kohli, Devdutt Padikkal, and Bhuvneshwar Kumar have officially reported for duty.
The opening match will see the reigning champions, RCB, face off against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) at the iconic M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. Following Kohli’s arrival, RCB took to social media to express their enthusiasm with a post that read, “You don’t have to see him… to know he’s coming! Check the calendar. There will be signs… #PlayBold RCB #IPL2026.”
Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s return was celebrated with a post that highlighted his calming presence and impactful performance, saying, “He brings the calm, but his impact is loud! Bhuvi is HOME, and the veteran is back to shoulder responsibilities again. Show our Swing King some love, 12th Man Army.”
Devdutt Padikkal, who made waves at the number three position last season, shared his readiness to take control of the game once more. RCB announced his return with a message, “Back to #PlayBold. Back to control the game. Debuted in 2020. Still ours in 2026. Bengaluru’s very own, StarBoy, Devdutt Padikkal is all set for #IPL2026!”
The full squad for IPL 2026 includes: 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, and Satvik Deswal.