IPL 2026: Ishan Kishan faces tough battle against Virat Kohli as SRH take on RCB in season opener

Bengaluru: In the opening match of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) will face Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) today (March 28). This contest between the two teams is being held at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. The toss for the match is scheduled for 7:00 PM IST, and the first ball will be bowled at 7:30 PM.

When did RCB win their IPL title?

Royal Challengers Bengaluru won their maiden IPL trophy last season by defeating Punjab Kings (PBKS). RCB enters this season with the intention of defending their title. On the other hand, Sunrisers Hyderabad will be looking to end a 10-year title drought this season. 

What about SRH's form?

Sunrisers Hyderabad's opening pair of Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma is currently considered one of the most formidable in the league. The presence of Ishan Kishan alongside them further strengthens the team's batting lineup. Over the last two seasons, this trio has put every opposing team under pressure with their aggressive batting during the Powerplay. In a match against RCB last season, SRH posted a massive total of 231 runs. In that game, Ishan Kishan played a blistering unbeaten knock of 94 runs off just 48 balls; although RCB lost that match, the team subsequently staged a magnificent comeback to clinch the title for the first time.

What is head-to-head record of RCB and SRH?

Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Sunrisers Hyderabad have engaged in fierce battles throughout the history of the Indian Premier League. In the 26 IPL matches played between the two teams so far, Sunrisers Hyderabad has emerged victorious 14 times, while RCB has secured wins in 11 matches. One match ended without a result.

RCB vs SRH: Head-to-Head
Total IPL Matches: 26
RCB Won: 14
SRH Won: 11
No Result: 1

What about RCB squad?

This time around, Royal Challengers Bengaluru appears to be even more balanced than before. Alongside Virat Kohli, players such as Phil Salt, Tim David, Romario Shepherd, Venkatesh Iyer, Jacob Duffy, and Jordan Cox lend strength to the team. Under the leadership of captain Rajat Patidar, the team has taken the field with the objective of winning the trophy for the second consecutive time. However, the absence of fast bowlers Josh Hazlewood and Nuwan Thushara continues to pose a challenge for the team.

What are the probable playing XIs? 

Royal Challengers Bangalore's Probable Playing XI: Phil Salt, Virat Kohli, Devdutt Padikkal, Rajat Patidar (Captain), Tim David, Jitesh Sharma (Wicketkeeper), Romario Shepherd, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jacob Duffy, and Rasikh Salam Dar.
Impact Sub: Venkatesh Iyer/Suyash Sharma.

Sunrisers Hyderabad's Probable Playing XI: Travis Head, Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan (Captain/Wicketkeeper), Heinrich Klaasen, Liam Livingstone, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Aniket Verma, Brydon Carse, Jaydev Unadkat, Harshal Patel, and Zeeshan Ansari.
Impact Sub: Shivam Mavi/Harsh Dubey.