RCB Set to Defend IPL Title in 2026 with Exciting Schedule

The Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) are set to defend their IPL title in 2026 after their historic win in 2025. Led by Rajat Patidar, RCB will kick off their season against Sunrisers Hyderabad. With a mix of home and away games, including matches in Raipur, the team is ready for an exciting season. Key fixtures and timings are detailed in the article, highlighting RCB's journey as they aim for back-to-back championships.

By Narendra Chaudhary Mar 26, 2026, 20:51 IST

RCB's Title Defense in IPL 2026

The Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) are gearing up to defend their title in the upcoming 2026 Indian Premier League (IPL). After clinching their first championship in 2025 under the leadership of Rajat Patidar, the team is eager to build on that success. Virat Kohli is set to make history as the first player to represent a single franchise across all 19 IPL seasons when RCB kicks off their campaign against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium.

This season, RCB will host five of their seven home matches in Bengaluru, while two games will be played at the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Cricket Stadium located in Raipur, Chhattisgarh's capital. The franchise has scheduled two day matches starting at 3:30 PM IST, with the remaining twelve fixtures commencing in the evening at 7:30 PM IST.

RCB's opponents include Delhi Capitals (DC), Gujarat Titans (GT), Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), Mumbai Indians (MI), and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), whom they will face twice. They will meet Chennai Super Kings (CSK), Rajasthan Royals (RR), Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), and Punjab Kings (PBKS) just once.

RCB's IPL 2026 Schedule:
Mar 28: vs Sunrisers Hyderabad (Home) – 7:30 PM | Bengaluru
Apr 05: vs Chennai Super Kings (Home) – 7:30 PM | Bengaluru
Apr 10: vs Rajasthan Royals (Away) – 7:30 PM | Guwahati
Apr 12: vs Mumbai Indians (Away) – 7:30 PM | Mumbai
Apr 15: vs Lucknow Super Giants (Home) – 7:30 PM | Bengaluru
Apr 18: vs Delhi Capitals (Home) – 3:30 PM | Bengaluru
Apr 24: vs Gujarat Titans (Home) – 7:30 PM | Bengaluru
Apr 27: vs Delhi Capitals (Away) – 7:30 PM | Delhi
Apr 30: vs Gujarat Titans (Away) – 7:30 PM | Ahmedabad
May 07: vs Lucknow Super Giants (Away) – 7:30 PM | Lucknow
May 10: vs Mumbai Indians (Home) – 7:30 PM | Raipur
May 13: vs Kolkata Knight Riders (Home) – 7:30 PM | Raipur
May 17: vs Punjab Kings (Away) – 3:30 PM | Dharamshala
May 22: vs Sunrisers Hyderabad (Away) – 7:30 PM | Hyderabad