Defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) elected to bowl first against Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL 2026 opener at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium.
Captain Rajat Patidar handed debut caps to pacers Abhinandan Singh and Jacob Duffy. The match marks cricket’s return to the venue after last year’s tragic incident, with RCB players wearing black armbands in tribute. Patidar expressed confidence in his squad, aiming for another title-winning campaign. SRH, led by Ishan Kishan in Pat Cummins’ absence, also included debutant Salil Arora.
Both teams showcased strong line-ups, promising an exciting start to the season as fans returned in huge numbers to support their sides.