RCB IPL 2026 Phase 1 Schedule: Defending Champions Open at Chinnaswamy

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) are set to start the IPL 2026 season as defending champions against Sunrisers Hyderabad in a home game on March 28. The match has been scheduled at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. As the opening match of the season, it will set the tone for the 84-match marathon ahead.

The Royal Challengers Bengaluru finished as champions in the last season of IPL, finally breaking their title drought in a historic 2025 campaign. RCB played a total of 16 matches last season, showcasing a transformed bowling unit and a steady middle order. Heading into the new season, Rajat Patidar’s men will be determined to become only the third team in history to successfully defend an IPL title.

Fairytale season for RCB in 2025

The 2025 season was a fairytale for the franchise, marked by an 18-year wait finally coming to an emotional end. Under the surprise leadership of Rajat Patidar, who became only the third captain in history to win the title in his debut season, RCB combined clinical aggression with newfound defensive resilience.

The final at the Narendra Modi Stadium saw RCB successfully defend 190 against a rampant Punjab Kings, winning by just 6 runs thanks to a clutch death-bowling masterclass from Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Josh Hazlewood. Virat Kohli, the soul of the franchise, finished as the top scorer with 657 runs, finally lifting the one trophy that had eluded him since the league’s inception in 2008.

For 2026, RCB has doubled down on this winning formula. Director of Cricket Mo Bobat and Head Coach Andy Flower have strategically resisted the urge to revert to a Kohli-captaincy model, choosing instead to empower Patidar for the long term. The squad has been significantly bolstered by the addition of Madhya Pradesh all-rounder Venkatesh Iyer, acquired for 7 crore, and the English power-hitter Jordan Cox.

With a bowling unit that now includes the experience of Bhuvneshwar Kumar alongside the lethal Josh Hazlewood, RCB’s Phase 1 is designed to exploit the batting-friendly Chinnaswamy while their revamped spin core, led by Krunal Pandya, provides the necessary control in the middle overs.

IPL 2026: Royal Challengers Bengaluru squad

RCB Squad: Rajat Patidar (captain), Virat Kohli, Phil Salt (wicketkeeper), Jitesh Sharma (wicketkeeper), Josh Hazlewood, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Venkatesh Iyer, Liam Livingstone, Krunal Pandya, Tim David, Romario Shepherd, Yash Dayal, Jacob Bethell, Devdutt Padikkal, Nuwan Thushara, Swapnil Singh, Rasikh Salam Dar, Suyash Sharma, Jacob Duffy, Jordan Cox, Vicky Ostwal.