The Indian Premier League 2026 is set to begin with a blockbuster clash as defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru welcome Sunrisers Hyderabad to the iconic M Chinnaswamy Stadium on Saturday. The opener is hugely special as it will mark the beginning of RCB’s title defence, something RCB waited nearly two decades to witness. RCB’s championship win in 2025 brought an end to their 18 years of heartbreak, near-misses, and endless hope. The franchise had come close multiple times, only to fail. Now, the narrative has shifted. RCB are no longer chasing glory; they are setting the benchmark. One of RCB’s biggest strengths heading into the new season is continuity. 

The retention of key players like Virat Kohli, skipper Rajat Patidar, Phil Salt, and Krunal Pandya gives them an edge, and the team's winning core remains intact. These players understand the demands of high-pressure situations and carry immense experience. However, the absence of Josh Hazlewood due to fitness issues weakens the pace attack, and Yash Dayal's unavailability for the entire season adds further strain. 

Meanwhile, New Zealand pacer Jacob Duffy provides cover for Hazlewood, and Mangesh Yadav adds impetus to the attack. Their bowling attack will be led by experienced Bhuvneshwar Kumar.

Moreover, Kohli remains the backbone of the team. Across the tournament’s history, he remains the leading run-scorer, holding records for the most centuries and half-centuries. For SRH, their campaign also begins with challenges. Regular captain Pat Cummins is unavailable due to a lumbar stress issue. In his absence, Ishan Kishan will lead the side. The squad has also seen changes, with Jack Edwards unavailable and replaced by England pacer David Payne. Nonetheless, SRH's batting remains strong. At the top, they have an aggressive pairing of Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma. And in the middle order, Heinrich Klaasen and Liam Livingstone will provide firepower. 

Head-to-head

Matches - 26

RCB won - 11

SRH won - 13

Drawn - 2

RCB likely XI: Phil Salt, Virat Kohli, Devdutt Padikkal, Rajat Patidar (c), Jitesh Sharma (wk), Tim David, Krunal Pandya, Romario Shepherd, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Suyash Sharma, Jacob Duffy

SRH likely XI: Travis Head, Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan (c), Heinrich Klaasen, Aniket Verma, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Liam Livingstone, Harshit Patel, Jaydev Unadkat, Brydon Carse, Shivam Mavi