The wait is finally over. IPL 2026 begins today — March 28 — and defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) face Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in the blockbuster opening match at the iconic M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. Toss at 7:00 PM IST, match starts at 7:30 PM IST.
If you are searching for the RCB vs SRH playing 11, pitch report, weather forecast, head-to-head stats, and match prediction — you are in the right place. Let’s break it all down.
Match Details — RCB vs SRH IPL 2026 Match 1
Match: RCB vs SRH, IPL 2026 Match 1
- Venue: M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru
- Toss Time: 7:00 PM IST
- Match Time: 7:30 PM IST
- Live TV: Star Sports 1 & 2 (Hindi + English)
- Live Streaming: JioHotstar app and website
RCB Playing 11 for IPL 2026 Match 1 (Predicted)
Defending champions RCB head into this match with a bowling crisis. Josh Hazlewood has joined the squad but will not play today due to injury. Yash Dayal is ruled out of the entire season. Nuwan Thushara has been denied NOC by Sri Lanka Cricket after failing a fitness test. That leaves RCB extremely thin on pace bowling.
RCB Predicted Playing 11: Virat Kohli, Phil Salt, Devdutt Padikkal, Rajat Patidar (c), Jitesh Sharma (wk), Tim David, Romario Shepherd, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Suyash Sharma, Jacob Duffy
Impact Sub: Mangesh Yadav / Jacob Bethell
SRH Playing 11 for IPL 2026 Match 1 (Predicted)
SRH also have a big injury concern — regular captain Pat Cummins is out for the first 5-6 matches with a back injury. Ishan Kishan has been named interim captain. However, SRH’s batting lineup remains terrifying with Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma set to open.
SRH Predicted Playing 11: Travis Head, Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan (c/wk), Heinrich Klaasen, Liam Livingstone, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Aniket Verma, Harsh Dubey, Jaydev Unadkat, Harshal Patel, Brydon Carse
Impact Sub: Zeeshan Ansari / Eshan Malinga
Chinnaswamy Stadium Pitch Report — IPL 2026 Opener
The M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru is one of the most batting-friendly pitches in the entire IPL. The outfield is fast, the boundary is short, and the pitch offers very little lateral movement for pacers. Spinners also tend to get hit on this ground. Expect a high-scoring match — a 200+ total from the team batting first is very likely. With both RCB and SRH having weak bowling attacks, this could easily become a 400+ run game.
Remember: SRH famously scored 287/3 at this very ground in IPL 2024. The conditions today are similar.
Weather Forecast — Bengaluru, March 28
Good news for fans — the weather looks clear and dry tonight in Bengaluru. According to AccuWeather, there is only a 6% chance of rain, with cloud cover at just 22%. Night-time conditions will also remain dry with almost zero chance of thunderstorms. The match should go ahead without any interruption.
RCB vs SRH Head-to-Head Record
The RCB vs SRH rivalry has produced some of the most breathtaking IPL matches in history. Here is how the two sides have matched up over the years:
- Overall: SRH leads the head-to-head record slightly
- At Chinnaswamy Stadium: RCB leads 5–3 in 8 matches
- Last meeting: SRH scored 287/3 in 2024, but RCB won IPL 2025
- RCB’s home advantage: Strong — they have the crowd and the conditions
Key Players to Watch
For RCB
- Virat Kohli — In the last 10 matches: 471 runs, average 58.88, strike rate 144.47. The King never rests at Chinnaswamy.
- Phil Salt — 173+ strike rate in recent form. RCB’s explosive opener.
- Bhuvneshwar Kumar — 17 wickets in IPL 2025. RCB’s most reliable bowler and their only experienced pacer available today.
For SRH
- Travis Head — 374 runs in 12 innings in IPL 2025. He can destroy any bowling attack inside the powerplay.
- Heinrich Klaasen — 362 runs in last 10 matches, strike rate 171.56. One of the most dangerous T20 finishers in the world.
- Abhishek Sharma — Strike rate of 200 in last 10 matches. His aggressive left-handed batting causes serious problems for any bowling attack.
RCB vs SRH IPL 2026 Match Prediction — Who Will Win Today?
This is an incredibly tough match to predict. Both teams have bowling weaknesses heading into today’s game. However, RCB hold a slight edge for the following reasons:
- Home advantage at Chinnaswamy — the RCB crowd is one of the loudest in cricket
- Virat Kohli is in exceptional form and has a phenomenal home record
- RCB’s batting lineup (Kohli + Salt + David + Shepherd) can post big totals
- SRH missing Pat Cummins is a huge blow to their bowling department
Our Prediction: RCB to win IPL 2026 Match 1 — but expect a very high-scoring and close contest. Google’s AI predictor also gives RCB a 54% win probability for this match.
Expected score for RCB batting first: 200–215. Expected score for SRH batting first: 195–210.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What time does RCB vs SRH IPL 2026 match start?
The RCB vs SRH IPL 2026 Match 1 starts at 7:30 PM IST on March 28. The toss will take place at 7:00 PM IST.
Where can I watch RCB vs SRH IPL 2026 live?
You can watch RCB vs SRH live on Star Sports 1 and Star Sports 2 on TV. For online streaming, use the JioHotstar app or website.
Is Pat Cummins playing today for SRH?
No. Pat Cummins is out for the first 5-6 matches of IPL 2026 with a back injury. Ishan Kishan will captain SRH in today’s match.
Is Josh Hazlewood playing for RCB today?
No. Josh Hazlewood has joined the RCB camp but will miss today’s match due to injury. Jacob Duffy is expected to replace him.
Who will win today’s RCB vs SRH match?
Most experts and predictions favour RCB to win at home. RCB have a 5-3 record against SRH at Chinnaswamy Stadium and Google’s predictor gives them a 54% win probability.
Who is the captain of SRH for IPL 2026?
Pat Cummins is the regular captain of SRH, but since he is injured, Ishan Kishan will captain the team for the first few matches of IPL 2026.