IPL 2026 Season Opener: RCB Faces SRH at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium

The IPL 2026 season kicks off with a thrilling match between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Sunrisers Hyderabad at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium. RCB, led by Rajat Patidar, aims to defend their title against SRH, who will be captained by Ishan Kishan in the absence of Pat Cummins. With star players on both sides, fans can expect an exciting showdown. The match is set to begin at 7:30 PM IST, with the toss at 7:00 PM IST. Tune in to catch all the action live on Star Sports and JioHotstar.

By Narendra Chaudhary Mar 27, 2026, 19:12 IST

IPL 2026 Kickoff: RCB vs SRH Live Streaming Details

The much-anticipated Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 is about to commence, featuring the defending champions, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), going head-to-head with Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on Saturday, March 28, 2026. RCB will be under the leadership of Rajat Patidar, while SRH will have Ishan Kishan stepping in as captain for the initial matches due to Pat Cummins' absence. After clinching their first title last season, RCB aims to maintain their momentum, whereas SRH, having finished sixth in IPL 2025 with a record of six wins and seven losses, is eager to kick off their 2026 campaign with a victory.

Match Predictions and Player Insights

Win Prediction:

RCB is favored to win, bolstered by star players like Virat Kohli, Phil Salt, Krunal Pandya, Tim David, and Jacob Bethell. The home advantage at a packed Chinnaswamy Stadium will further enhance their chances. However, SRH should not be underestimated; if Ishan Kishan can perform well alongside Abhishek Sharma and Travis Head during the powerplay, they could potentially quiet the crowd. SRH's overseas batting lineup, including Heinrich Klaasen and Liam Livingstone, is strong, but their bowling may be a concern without Cummins.

Pitch Report and Match Timing

PITCH REPORT: WIN-LOSS RATIO At Chinnaswamy

The pitch at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium has historically favored batsmen, offering minimal assistance to bowlers. The second half of the match typically becomes easier for batting, making it challenging to defend totals. Out of 100 matches played here, the team batting first has won 43 times, while the chasing team has secured victory 53 times, indicating that the toss winner will likely opt to chase.

Match Schedule:

The IPL 2026 season opener between RCB and SRH is set for Saturday, March 28, 2026, starting at 7:30 PM IST. The toss will occur at 7:00 PM IST, thirty minutes prior to the match.

Viewing Options for Fans

How to Watch:

Fans can catch the live broadcast of the IPL 2026 season opener on the Star Sports Network, with streaming available on the JioHotstar app.

Team Lineups

RCB Full Squad:

Rajat Patidar, Virat Kohli, Devdutt Padikkal, Phil Salt, Jitesh Sharma, Jordan Cox, Krunal Pandya, Swapnil Singh, Tim David, Romario Shepherd, Jacob Bethell, Venkatesh Iyer, Satvik Deswal, Mangesh Yadav, Vicky Ostwal, Vihaan Malhotra, Kanishk Chouhan, Josh Hazlewood, Rasikh Dar, Suyash Sharma, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Nuwan Thushara, Abhinandan Singh, Jacob Duffy, Yash Dayal

SRH Full Squad:

Pat Cummins, Travis Head, Abhishek Sharma, Heinrich Klaasen, Ishan Kishan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Liam Livingstone, Harshal Patel, Kamindu Mendis, Brydon Carse, Harsh Dubey, Aniket Verma, Smaran Ravichandran, Salil Arora, Jaydev Unadkat, Shivam Mavi, Zeeshan Ansari, Eshan Malinga, Sakib Hussain, and newcomer David Payne