The stage is set for a big clash as the Indian Premier League 2026 begins. Defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru will take on Sunrisers Hyderabad at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in the tournament opener.
Cricket is finally returning to Bengaluru's iconic ground, as the stadium had not hosted any matches since last year’s tragic stampede during RCB’s title celebrations, where 11 people lost their lives. Since then, the Karnataka State Cricket Association has worked hard to make the ground ready again.
Virat Kohli to be in action
One of the biggest highlights of the match will be the return of Virat Kohli, who is back after the ODI series against New Zealand. With his focus on the 2027 World Cup, fans will be keen to see how he approaches this season, whether he plays aggressively or builds his innings in his usual style.
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Who will replace Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins?
Both teams, however, will miss their key fast bowlers. Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins are still recovering from injuries. Although they have joined their teams in India, they are not yet fit enough to play.
Their absence means both sides will need to rethink their bowling plans. For now, it looks like Brydon Carse and Jacob Duffy could take up the responsibility with the ball.
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Nuwan Thushara and Jacob Bethell to miss the tournament opener
RCB had also considered Nuwan Thushara, but he is unlikely to feature as he may not get clearance from Sri Lanka Cricket. In the batting department, England’s Jacob Bethell is expected to miss out on the opening game, despite his recent performances. Instead, Phil Salt is likely to open alongside Kohli. The middle order could see players like Tim David and Romario Shepherd playing important roles.
For Hyderabad, Ishan Kishan is expected to lead the side in Cummins’ absence. The team’s batting strength will rely heavily on Liam Livingstone and Heinrich Klaasen, who are known for their power-hitting and ability to change the game quickly.
Here are the predicted XIs:
RCB: Virat Kohli, Phil Salt, Devdutt Padikkal, Rajat Patidar (captain), Tim David, Jitesh Sharma, Krunal Pandya, Romario Shepherd, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Suyash Sharma, Jacob Duffy.
SRH: Travis Head, Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan (captain), Liam Livingstone, Heinrich Klaasen, Aniket Verma, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Brydon Carse, Jaydev Unadkat, Harshal Patel, Zeeshan Ansari.