March 28, New Delhi: The defending champions, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, will face their South Indian rivals, Sunrisers Hyderabad, in the opening match of the 2026 Indian Premier League on Saturday at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium.
SRH are aiming for redemption after finishing sixth last season, and they arrive with a significantly altered leadership structure. In the absence of injured captain Pat Cummins, opener Ishan Kishan will lead the side.
The visiting team features a strong top order, including Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma, with added firepower from Liam Livingstone. The Chinnaswamy pitch continues to favor batsmen, with average scores around 194 and short boundaries.
RCB's balanced core, led by Rajat Patidar and Virat Kohli, gives them a slight advantage. However, SRH's aggressive approach is expected to make the match a high-intensity opening game of the season. RCB had a dominant 2025 campaign, winning their first IPL title.
Photo Credit: @IPL