Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) will take on Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in Match No. 1 of IPL 2026 at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on March 28, 2026. This article provides the probable playing XIs of RCB and SRH, possible team combinations and key players to watch out for at M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru.
Royal Challengers Bangalore are entering IPL 2026 as defending champions, while Sunrisers Hyderabad failed to make the playoffs last season. Now, both the teams are keen to make a winning start to their IPL 2026 campaign in Bengaluru.
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RCB Playing XI vs SRH, Match 1, IPL 2026:
Openers: Virat Kohli, Phil Salt
Virat Kohli and Phil Salt are the backbone of Royal Challengers Bangalore. While Salt is an aggressive opening batsman, Kohli will play the anchor role with the aim of giving RCB a great start in the opening match of IPL 2026 against SRH on home ground.
Middle-order batsmen and all-rounders: Devdutt Padikkal, Rajat Patidar, Jitesh Sharma, Tim David, Krunal Pandya, Romario Shepherd.
Royal Challengers Bangalore have a strong and well-rounded batting and all-rounder lineup. Devdutt Padikkal will play an important role at number 3. Captain Rajat Patidar will take charge of the middle overs and ensure that the team does not lose control.
Jitesh Sharma will be the wicketkeeper and will score quick runs, while Tim David will focus on hitting big shots in the death overs. Krunal Pandya gives balance to RCB with his all-round skills.
Romario Shepherd, on the other hand, adds extra power with his aggressive batting in the lower-middle order as well as swing and effective variation in the death overs.
Bowlers: Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Rasikh Salam, Jacob Duffy
RCB is all set to rely heavily on its bowlers against Sunrisers Hyderabad. Bhuvneshwar Kumar will lead the pace attack in the absence of Josh Hazlewood. His main task will be to utilize the early swing and stop dangerous batsmen like Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma.
On the other hand, Jacob Duffy is expected to bowl with the new ball. He is in excellent form and will aim to bowl tightly on a pitch that suits Bengaluru’s batting.
RCB XI: Virat Kohli, Phil Salt, Devdutt Padikkal, Rajat Patidar (captain), Jitesh Sharma, Tim David, Krunal Pandya, Romario Shepherd, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Rasikh Salaam, Jacob Duffy/Nuwan Thusara.
Effect Sub: Suyash Sharma
SRH Playing XI vs RCB, Match 1, IPL 2026:
Openers: Abhishek Sharma, Travis Head
Sunrisers Hyderabad will depend largely on their explosive openers Abhishek Sharma and Travis Head in the first match of IPL 2026 against Royal Challengers Bangalore. Head would like to attack from the first ball and put pressure on the RCB bowlers at the beginning of the game.
Abhishek Sharma will support him at the top with the same aggressive attitude. The left-handed batsman will aim to continue his form in the tournament on the flat pitch of Bengaluru. If both Abhishek and Head get set, they can snatch the game from RCB.
Middle-order batsmen and all-rounders: Ishan Kishan, Heinrich Klaasen, Aniket Verma, Liam Livingstone, Nitish Kumar Reddy
SRH have a strong and aggressive lineup against RCB. Stand-in captain Ishan Kishan will bat at number 3 and attack the bowlers after the powerplay. Heinrich Klaasen remains the main power-hitter in the middle overs, especially against spin.
Nitish Kumar Reddy, on the other hand, strikes the balance with his all-round skills. Englishman Liam Livingstone brings extra power with the bat and is also a useful spinner. Young Aniket Verma will play the role of finisher.
Bowlers: Ishan Malinga, Jaydev Unadkat, Harshal Patel, Zeeshan Ansari
SRH have a strong and dangerous bowling attack to take on RCB. Harshal Patel’s role will be important in stopping the flow of runs on a small ground. And then the experience and left-arm angle of experienced fast bowler Jaydev Unadkat will be crucial against the home team.
Young Ishan Malinga brings raw pace and can trouble the batsmen early, and then in the middle overs, Zeeshan Ansari will try to trouble the RCB batsmen with his spin. This mix of experience and young bowlers makes SRH’s bowling attack exciting and dangerous.
SRH XI: Abhishek Sharma, Travis Head, Ishan Kishan (captain/wicketkeeper), Heinrich Klaasen, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Aniket Verma, Liam Livingstone, Ishan Malinga, Jaydev Unadkat, Harshal Patel, Zeeshan Ansari.
Impact Player: Kamindu Mendis/Cranes Phuletra
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