The discussion about the upcoming Indian Premier League 2026 (IPL 2026) has started and cricket experts have started speculating about the possible playing XI of Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB).
Royal Challengers Bangalore won their first IPL trophy last year by defeating Punjab Kings in a thrilling final. After that historic win, the franchise is likely to continue with almost the same combination rather than making major changes at the start of the 2026 season.
Sanjay Bangar reveals his predicted RCB XI for IPL 2026
After BCCI announced the upcoming IPL 2026 schedule, former Indian coach Sanjay Bangar shared his expected RCB playing XI, and his selection has raised eyebrows. Cricket pundits believe that the current champions already seem settled, so there is no need for much change.
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Surprisingly, the former RCB coach said that Indian all-rounder Venkatesh Iyer will not make it to the playing eleven at the start of the season despite being one of his top picks in the mini-auction. The former Indian all-rounder predicted that the team will play the same team that won the trophy last season against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in the first match of IPL 2026.
There is room for Venkatesh Iyer: Sanjay Bangar
Bangar said that Devdutt Padikkal is expected to retain his place in the RCB playing XI after his crucial innings in the latter stages of the tournament last year, and his remarkable domestic season will also help him retain his place. Given that, Bangar felt that Venkatesh Iyer would have to wait for his chance.
Sanjay Bangar said on Star Sports, “There is no room for him. Just because you have paid a lot of money to buy a good player, it does not mean that there is no room for him. Devdutt Padikkal has played important innings. He was not in form at the beginning, but he played quick innings towards the end of the playoffs. So, he will continue. If everyone remains fit, he will play the first match with almost the same team.”
Bangar’s RCB XI:
Virat Kohli, Phil Salt, Devdutt Padikkal, Rajat Patidar, Jitesh Sharma, Tim David, Romario Shepherd, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Josh Hazlewood, Yash Dayal,
Impact Player: Suyash Sharma
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Josh Hazlewood’s return could be a huge boost for RCB
There is also some concern about the fitness of Josh Hazlewood. The Australian fast bowler could not play the Ashes at home and then recently the T20 World Cup 2026 due to injuries. However, if Hazlewood returns fit, he will be a huge asset for RCB in the upcoming IPL 2026.
Bangar said during the same discussion, “The most positive thing for RCB about Hazlewood is that when a player reaches the last phase of his international career, his commitment towards the IPL increases because he feels that he wants to take his career forward by playing one or two additional seasons there. This benefits whichever team selects such a player.”
IPL 2026 will begin on March 28 at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, with the defending champions facing off against SRH. RCB will play five home matches this season in Bengaluru and the remaining two in Raipur.