The 19th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) is set to begin on March 28, with defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru taking on Sunrisers Hyderabad in the opening fixture in Bengaluru.
This preview covers all key aspects of the contest, including match details, squads, probable XIs, head-to-head record, pitch and weather conditions, and live streaming information.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru enter the season as defending champions after securing their maiden title following 18 years. Sunrisers Hyderabad, meanwhile, missed out on the playoffs last season and will be aiming to start their campaign on a strong note.
Match Details
- Date: Saturday, March 28, 2026
- Venue: M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru
- Time: 7:30 PM IST
Squads
Royal Challengers Bengaluru:
Rajat Patidar (C), Virat Kohli, Devdutt Patidar, Tim David, Vihaan Malhotra, Phil Salt (wk), Jitesh Sharma (wk), Jordan Cox (wk), Jacob Bethell, Venkatesh Iyer, Krunal Pandya, Romario Shepherd, Swapnil Sinngh, Kanishk Chouhan, Mangesh Yadav, Satvik Deswal, Suyash Sharma, Vicky Ostwal, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Josh Hazelwood, Yash Dayal, Jacob Duffy, Nuwan Thushara, Rasikh Salam, Abhinandan Singh
Sunrisers Hyderabad:
Pat Cummins (C), Tracis Head, Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan (wk), Heinrich Klaasen (wk), Smaran Ravichandran, Aniket Verma, Salil Arora (wk), Kamindu Mendis, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Liam Livingstone, Harsh Dubey, Jack Edwards, Zeeshan Ansari, Krains Fuletra, Harshal Patel, Brydon Carse, Jaydev Unadkat, Shivam Mavi, Eshan Malinga, Sakib Hussain, Onkar Tarmale, Amit Kumar, Praful Hinge
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Probable Playing XIs
RCB:
Virat Kohli, Phil Salt, Devdutt Padikkal, Rajat Patidar (C), Jitesh Sharma, Tim David, Krunal Pandya, Romario Shepherd, Bhuvaneshwar Kumar, Rasikh Salam, Jacob Duffy/Nuwan Thusara
Impact Sub: Suyash Sharma
SRH:
Abhishek Sharma, Travis Head, Ishan Kishan (C/WK), Heinrich Klaasen, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Aniket Verma, Liam Livingstone, Eshan Malinga, Jaydev Unadkat, Harshal Patel, Zeeshan Ansari
Impact Player: Kamindu Mendis / Krains Fuletra
Key Battles to Watch
Virat Kohli vs Harshal Patel
A familiar contest between former RCB teammates, with Harshal Patel expected to rely on variations, particularly in the later overs. Kohli, known for building his innings, will look to counter that approach.
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Travis Head vs Bhuvneshwar Kumar
Head’s aggressive style at the top will be tested by Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s swing with the new ball. An early breakthrough could significantly impact SRH’s innings.
Heinrich Klaasen vs Krunal Pandya
Klaasen’s dominance against spin will be challenged by Krunal Pandya in the middle overs, where control and variation will be key.
Phil Salt vs Liam Livingstone
Salt’s attacking approach in the Powerplay could be countered by Livingstone’s spin options, offering SRH a tactical option to break partnerships.
Key Players
Royal Challengers Bengaluru:
Virat Kohli, Phil Salt, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Rajat Patidar, Krunal Pandya, Romario Shepherd
Sunrisers Hyderabad:
Travis Head, Abhishek Sharma, Heinrich Klaasen, Ishan Kishan, Harshal Patel, Liam Livingstone
Pitch and Weather Report
Weather (Bengaluru):
Conditions are expected to be favourable for evening cricket, with temperatures around 25–27°C. There is no rain forecast, while humidity is expected to be around 40%, with dew likely in the second innings.
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Pitch (M Chinnaswamy Stadium):
The surface is known for high-scoring games, with first-innings totals frequently reaching 180–190 in recent IPL seasons. Short boundaries favour batters, although fast bowlers may find some movement early. Spinners could come into play later but will need to rely on variations.
Head-to-Head Record
Sunrisers Hyderabad hold the advantage in this rivalry, winning 14 of 25 matches, while Royal Challengers Bengaluru have won 11.
Last Five Results
- RCB won by 67 runs in Mumbai on May 8, 2022
- RCB won by 8 wickets in Hyderabad on May 18, 2023
- SRH won by 25 runs in Bengaluru on April 15, 2024
- SRH won by 35 runs in Hyderabad on April 25, 2025
- SRH won by 42 runs in Lucknow on May 23, 2025
Conclusion
The IPL 2026 opener between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Sunrisers Hyderabad promises to be a high-scoring contest at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium. RCB will aim to begin their title defence with a strong performance at home, while SRH will look to bounce back after a disappointing 2025 campaign.
With both sides featuring strong batting line-ups and a history of competitive encounters, the stage is set for an exciting start to the new season.
