Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Rajasthan Royals head into their IPL 2026 meeting with perfect records, setting up a high-stakes contest between two in-form sides. What began as off-field discussions around ownership and valuations has quickly shifted to their performances on the field, with both teams delivering consistent results early in the season.
Rajasthan Royals have combined flair with control at the top, where Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s attacking approach has been complemented by the elegance and tempo of Devdutt Padikkal at No. 3. Yashasvi Jaiswal and Dhruv Jurel have provided authority in the top order, while RCB’s Rajat Patidar has stood out with his six-hitting ability. With the ball, Nandre Burger’s pace and movement have found a parallel in Jacob Duffy’s accuracy and hard lengths. Virat Kohli continues to remain a central figure at the top, adapting his approach while maintaining consistency.
RCB’s success away from home was a defining feature of their IPL 2025 title run, where they won all seven matches on the road. They now enter another challenging away stretch with momentum after strong performances at home. However, RR have shown signs of being a more complete unit this season, moving beyond the narrow defeats that marked their previous campaign. One such contest came last year when RCB defended 17 in the final two overs in Bengaluru.
A key distinction between the teams lies in their middle order. RCB’s unit has made a significant impact, with Patidar and Tim David leading the competition in six-hitting during the middle and death overs. RR, on the other hand, have relied heavily on their top order, with Jaiswal and Sooryavanshi putting together three consecutive half-century opening partnerships, leaving limited opportunities for Riyan Parag to settle in.
This fixture in Guwahati also marks an important phase for RR before they return to Jaipur. With three consecutive away matches to follow, the upcoming run could play a decisive role in their campaign as they continue their pursuit of a second IPL title.
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Team News
Rajasthan Royals are expected to field an unchanged XI, with no injury concerns reported.
Rajasthan Royals (likely XII):
Yashasvi Jaiswal, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Dhruv Jurel (wk), Riyan Parag (capt), Shimron Hetmyer, Donovan Ferreira, Ravindra Jadeja, Jofra Archer, Sandeep Sharma, Nandre Burger, Tushar Deshpande, Ravi Bishnoi
For RCB, Josh Hazlewood is still working towards full fitness and is unlikely to feature. The only potential change could involve Abhinandan Singh, although the team may stick with the current combination. Alternatives include Rasikh Dar and Mangesh Yadav.
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Royal Challengers Bengaluru (likely XII):
Virat Kohli, Phil Salt, Devdutt Padikkal, Rajat Patidar (capt), Tim David, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Romario Shepherd, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jacob Duffy, Abhinandan Singh, Suyash Sharma
In the Spotlight
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has quickly become one of the most exciting players in the tournament. His half-century against Chennai Super Kings was followed by an aggressive display against Jasprit Bumrah, where he struck a six off the first ball and added another soon after. He has now hit the first ball of his innings for a boundary three times and started with a six on two occasions. His battle against Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who dismissed him in their previous meeting, will be one to watch.
Devdutt Padikkal has adapted seamlessly to his role at No. 3, maintaining his technique while increasing his scoring rate. He has struck at 201.81 across 55 deliveries this season and has shown marked improvement against pace, particularly short and back-of-a-length deliveries. His middle-overs strike rate has also risen significantly, reflecting his evolution in the format. Facing his former team adds another layer to his performance.
Key Stats
- Tim David leads all batters in sixes between overs 17 and 20 since IPL 2025 with 19, while Dhruv Jurel has hit 13, though now batting higher in the order.
- RCB have won nine of their last ten away matches since IPL 2025, with their only defeat coming against Sunrisers Hyderabad in Lucknow.
- Sandeep Sharma has dismissed Virat Kohli seven times in 18 innings, conceding 132 runs at a strike rate of 150.
- Jaiswal and Sooryavanshi remain unbeaten in the powerplay this season, scoring 74, 69 and 59 in that phase.
Pitch and Conditions
The surface is expected to offer true bounce and favour strokeplay. It is the same pitch where RR scored 150 in an 11-over game against Mumbai Indians earlier this week. Batters are likely to benefit from playing on the front foot and attacking freely, with improved weather conditions also expected.
Upcoming Fixtures
Rajasthan Royals:
April 13: vs Sunrisers Hyderabad, Hyderabad
April 19: vs Kolkata Knight Riders, Kolkata
April 22: vs Lucknow Super Giants, Lucknow
Royal Challengers Bengaluru:
April 12: vs Mumbai Indians, Mumbai
April 15: vs Lucknow Super Giants, Bengaluru
April 18: vs Delhi Capitals, Bengaluru
