The first match of the IPL 2026 will feature Royal Challengers Bengaluru going up against Sunrisers Hyderabad at M.Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru on 28th March at 7:30 PM IST.
Get the best RCB vs SRH Dream11 prediction, fantasy cricket tips, probable playing XI, and match insights for the 1st match of the IPL 2026. Expert analysis and more.
RCB vs SRH Match Preview:
Defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru kick off the 19th edition of the Indian Premier League in a high-octane clash against Sunrisers Hyderabad. This opening encounter takes place as Match Number 1 of IPL 2026 on March 28, 2026, at the iconic M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. Fans can expect a massive atmosphere for this Saturday night blockbuster, which officially starts at 7:30 PM IST.
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Historically, this rivalry has favored the visitors by a small margin in this format of the competition. Both teams have faced each other 26 times in the IPL, with Sunrisers Hyderabad securing 14 victories while Royal Challengers Bengaluru have claimed 11 wins. Additionally, one match between these two sides ended with no result, highlighting how competitive these encounters remain.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru enter this season with immense confidence as the reigning champions after their maiden title win in 2025. Captain Rajat Patidar leads a balanced squad that finished at the top of the mountain last year, and they currently occupy the neutral starting position on the points table. Key players like Virat Kohli and new addition Venkatesh Iyer strengthen their batting, while Bhuvneshwar Kumar spearheads a bowling unit looking to replicate its championship-winning form.
Meanwhile, Sunrisers Hyderabad arrives with a point to prove after being one of the most explosive batting sides in recent history. The “Orange Army” relies on the aggressive opening pair of Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma to set the tone early. Furthermore, the inclusion of Liam Livingstone and Ishan Kishan adds significant depth to their middle order, making them one of the most dangerous units in the tournament as they start their 2026 campaign.
Therefore, both teams will aim to secure two crucial points to establish early dominance in the new season. Royal Challengers Bengaluru seeks to use their home-ground advantage to begin their title defense on a winning note. Conversely, Sunrisers Hyderabad will focus on silencing the Bengaluru crowd and improving their head-to-head dominance with an away victory.
RCB vs SRH Head-to-Head Record:
|
Teams |
Matches Won |
|
Royal Challengers Bengaluru |
11 |
|
Sunrisers Hyderabad |
13 |
RCB vs SRH Weather & Pitch Report:
|
Temperature |
29°C |
|
Weather Forecast |
Broken Clouds |
|
Pitch Behaviour |
Batting-friendly |
|
Best Suited To |
Pace |
|
Average 1st innings score |
169 |
Record of chasing teams:
|
Records |
Good |
|
Winning % |
53% |
RCB vs SRH Playing 12s (Predicted):
Royal Challengers Bengaluru Playing 12:
1) Virat Kohli
2) Philip Salt
3) Devdutt Padikkal
4) Rajat Patidar ©
5) Jitesh Sharma
6) Jacob Bethell
7) Tim David / Romario Shepherd
8) Krunal Pandya
9) Bhuvneshwar Kumar
10) Suyash Sharma
11) Jacob Duffy
12) Mangesh Yadav
Sunrisers Hyderabad Playing 12:
1) Travis Head
2) Abhishek Sharma
3) Ishan Kishan (c & wk)
4) Nitish Kumar Reddy
5) Heinrich Klaasen
6) Aniket Verma
7) Liam Livingstone
8) Zeeshan Ansari
9) Harsh Dubey
10) Harshal Patel
11) Ehsan Malinga
12) Jaydev Unadkat
Hot Picks for RCB vs SRH Dream11 Prediction and Fantasy Cricket Tips:
Captaincy Picks:
|
Abhishek Sharma – A left-handed batting all-rounder from Sunrisers Hyderabad who has delivered 1,815 runs in 77 matches with his aggressive stroke play. |
|
Virat Kohli – Royal Challengers Bengaluru rely on this right-handed top-order batter who has piled up 8,661 runs in 267 matches, including a highest score of 113. |
Top Picks:
|
Phil Salt – Explosive at the top, this right-handed wicketkeeper batter for Royal Challengers Bengaluru has accumulated 1,056 runs in 34 appearances. |
|
Travis Head – The left-handed opener from Sunrisers Hyderabad has dominated attacks, scoring 1,146 runs in 38 matches, including a powerful century. |
Budget Picks:
|
Rajat Patidar – Captaining Royal Challengers Bengaluru, the right-handed top-order batter has registered 1,111 runs in 42 matches with consistent performances. |
|
Nitish Kumar Reddy – Sunrisers Hyderabad feature this right-handed all-rounder who has added 485 runs and claimed 6 wickets in 28 matches. |
RCB vs SRH IPL 2026 Captain and Vice-captain Choices:
|
Captain |
Virat Kohli & Abhishek Sharma |
|
Vice-Captain |
Travis Head & Philip Salt |
RCB vs SRH Dream11 Prediction Team 1:
- Keepers – Heinrich Klaasen, Philip Salt, Ishan Kishan
- Batters – Virat Kohli ©, Travis Head (vc), Abhishek Sharma
- All-rounders – Liam Livingstone, Krunal Pandya
- Bowlers – Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Harshal Patel, Jacob Duffy
RCB vs SRH Dream11 Prediction Team 2:
- Keepers – Philip Salt (vc), Ishan Kishan
- Batters – Virat Kohli, Travis Head, Rajat Patidar, Abhishek Sharma ©
- All-rounders – Krunal Pandya, Nitish Kumar Reddy
- Bowlers – Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Harshal Patel, Jacob Duffy
RCB vs SRH Dream11 Prediction Today Match 1 IPL 2026 Players to Avoid:
|
Players |
Dream11 Credits |
Dream11 Points (Last match) |
|
Salil Arora |
6.0 credits |
NA |
|
Jordan Cox |
6.5 credits |
NA |
RCB vs SRH Dream11 Prediction Today Match 1 IPL 2026 Expert Advice:
|
SL Captaincy Choice |
Virat Kohli |
|
GL Captaincy Choice |
Abhishek Sharma |
|
Punt Picks |
Nitish Kumar Reddy and Rajat Patidar |
|
Dream11 Combination |
3-3-2-3 |
RCB vs SRH Match Winner Prediction:
Considering the batting depth, Sunrisers Hyderabad is expected to win this match.