The Indian Premier League 2026 kicks off with a blockbuster opener as defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru host Sunrisers Hyderabad at their home ground in Bengaluru on March 28, 2026.
RCB entered this tournament on a massive high after lifting the IPL trophy in 2025, defeating Punjab Kings by 6 runs in a nail-biting final.
SRH, on the other hand, finished their IPL 2025 campaign in strong form, registering some dominant wins in the backend of the season. With both squads carrying serious firepower in batting and bowling, this opening-night clash sets the perfect tone for what promises to be a competitive IPL 2026.
SRH vs RCB Match Preview
RCB host SRH in the IPL 2026 opener at Bengaluru.
| Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Match | Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Sunrisers Hyderabad, 1st Match |
| Date | 28 March 2026 |
| Time | 7:30 PM IST |
| Venue | Bengaluru |
| Series | Indian Premier League 2026 |
Recent Performance
Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB): IPL 2025 champions, winning three of their last four completed matches, including a thrilling 6-run final win over Punjab Kings. Their only loss came against SRH, who beat them by 42 runs.
Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH): Heading into IPL 2026 in solid form, with standout wins including a 110-run demolition of KKR and a 42-run victory over RCB. Their only loss in this stretch was a 38-run defeat to Gujarat Titans.
| Team | Recent Results (Last 5 Matches) |
|---|---|
| RCB | Won (vs PBKS Final), Won (vs PBKS Q1), Won (vs LSG), Lost (vs SRH), Abandoned (vs KKR) |
| SRH | Won (vs KKR by 110 runs), Won (vs RCB by 42 runs), Won (vs LSG), No Result (vs DC), Lost (vs GT) |
Players To Watch
Key Batters:
Virat Kohli is the standout batting pick heading into this match, with 471 runs in 10 matches at an average of 58.88 and a strike rate of 144.47. He is the highest run-scorer among all listed players from both sides, and his consistency makes him the most valuable Dream11 asset in this game.
Phil Salt complements him well at the top, bringing an aggressive touch with 260 runs in 8 matches at a strike rate of 173.33, making him a reliable pick for boundary points.
For Sunrisers Hyderabad, Abhishek Sharma is in exceptional touch, having scored 406 runs in 10 matches at a remarkable strike rate of 200, which is the highest among all listed players. His ability to score at twice the rate of the ball makes him an explosive option for Dream11.
Heinrich Klaasen adds further batting depth for SRH, with 362 runs in 10 matches at an impressive average of 51.71 and a strike rate of 171.56, making him a reliable middle-order pick.
| Player | Team | Matches | Runs | Avg | Strike Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Virat Kohli | RCB | 10 | 471 | 58.88 | 144.47 |
| Phil Salt | RCB | 8 | 260 | 37.14 | 173.33 |
| Abhishek Sharma | SRH | 10 | 406 | 45.11 | 200.00 |
| Heinrich Klaasen | SRH | 10 | 362 | 51.71 | 171.56 |
Key Bowlers:
Josh Hazlewood is the top bowling pick from RCB with 14 wickets in just 7 matches at a strike rate of 10.78, making him the most potent wicket-taker among all listed bowlers.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar adds experience to the attack with 12 wickets in 10 matches, though his economy of 9.89 makes him the more expensive option of the two.
For SRH, Pat Cummins is the standout pick with 13 wickets in 10 matches and the best economy rate of 7.91 among all listed bowlers.
Eshan Malinga matches Cummins on wickets with 13 in just 7 matches and a strike rate of 12.30, making him an equally dangerous Dream11 option from the SRH side.
| Player | Team | Matches | Wickets | Economy | Strike Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Josh Hazlewood | RCB | 7 | 14 | 8.86 | 10.78 |
| Bhuvneshwar Kumar | RCB | 10 | 12 | 9.89 | 18.50 |
| Pat Cummins | SRH | 10 | 13 | 7.91 | 16.92 |
| Eshan Malinga | SRH | 7 | 13 | 8.93 | 12.30 |
Dream11 Team for SRH vs RCB
SRH vs RCB Head-to-Head Records
SRH lead overall 13-11, but RCB dominate at home in Bengaluru with 5 wins to SRH’s 3.
| Category | Stats |
|---|---|
| Highest team total in this rivalry | 26 |
| RCB Wins | 11 |
| SRH Wins | 13 |
| No Result | 2 |
| At M. Chinnaswamy Stadium (Bengaluru) | RCB won by 67 runs (08 May 2022) |
| Highehst team total in this rivalry | SRH 287/3 vs RCB,Chinnaswamy Stadium(15 Apr 2024) |
RCB and SRH have faced each other 26 times in the IPL, with SRH holding a slight edge at 13 wins to RCB’s 11, and 2 matches ending in no result.
Meanwhile, at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, where this match is being played, RCB have the upper hand with 5 wins compared to SRH’s 3. Virat Kohli is the highest run-scorer in this rivalry with 805 runs, while Bhuvneshwar Kumar leads the wicket-takers chart with 19 wickets, having represented both sides.
SRH holds the record for the highest team total in IPL history, scoring 287/3 against RCB at Chinnaswamy in April 2024. With home conditions favouring RCB and the head-to-head being so closely contested, this IPL 2026 opener promises to be another tight battle between these two sides.
Last Five T20 Meetings
- RCB lead 3-2 in the last five meetings, with SRH winning the most recent encounter by 42 runs.
- RCB and SRH have a competitive history in T20 cricket. Looking at the last five meetings between these two sides, RCB holds a 3-2 lead.
- RCB’s biggest win in this run was a 67-run victory back in May 2022, showing they can dominate SRH on their day.
- They also beat SRH by 8 wickets with 4 balls remaining in May 2023 and won by 35 runs in April 2024.
- SRH have fought back, winning by 25 runs in April 2024 and then delivering a comprehensive 42-run win over RCB as recently as May 2025.
That most recent result gives SRH confidence going into this IPL 2026 opener, even though they are the visiting side.
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Top Picks For The Match
Kohli leads the batting picks with the most runs and the best average, while Abhishek Sharma stands out with a strike rate of 200.
With the ball, Hazlewood is the top pick for his wicket-taking ability, with Cummins and Malinga being the standout options from SRH.
| Player | Team | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Virat Kohli | RCB | Batter |
| Abhishek Sharma | SRH | Batter |
| Heinrich Klaasen | SRH | Batter |
| Phil Salt | RCB | Batter |
| Josh Hazlewood | RCB | Bowler |
| Pat Cummins | SRH | Bowler |
| Eshan Malinga | SRH | Bowler |
| Bhuvneshwar Kumar | RCB | Bowler |
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