RCB Faces Key Absences Ahead of IPL 2026 Opener Against SRH
RCB's Injury Concerns Before IPL 2026 Kickoff
As the IPL 2026 season approaches, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) has encountered a significant setback. The team is set to face Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on Saturday, March 28, 2026. RCB's head coach, Andy Flower, announced that star Australian bowler Josh Hazlewood will not participate in the opening match due to ongoing fitness issues. The team is currently assessing his condition in hopes of a swift return. Additionally, Nuwan Thushara will also be absent for the first game after failing a fitness test, raising concerns about his availability for the remainder of the season. Yash Dayal has already been confirmed out for the entire season.
Hazlewood's Absence and RCB's Bowling Strategy
Hazlewood's Status for IPL 2026 Opener
In the pre-match press conference, Flower stated, "Hazlewood won't be ready for tomorrow. But we are monitoring his fitness." The 35-year-old has been sidelined since suffering a hamstring injury during a Sheffield Shield match last November, which also caused him to miss the Ashes and the recent T20 World Cup 2026, where India successfully defended their title. Last season, Hazlewood was a key player for RCB, taking 22 wickets in 12 matches, which led to the team's decision to retain him for ₹12.5 crore ahead of the auctions. He was seen participating in light drills during practice, and the coaching staff is optimistic about his recovery before the match against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) on Sunday, April 5. In light of Hazlewood and Thushara's absence, RCB may rely on experienced players like Bhuvneshwar Kumar and New Zealand's Jacob Duffy.
Virat Kohli's Form Ahead of IPL 2026
Virat Kohli's Impressive Form
Despite the challenges posed by Hazlewood's injury, RCB received a boost with the news that former captain Virat Kohli is in exceptional form. Coach Flower remarked, "Kohli is looking super fit, the way he is timing in practice, he is at the top of his game." Kohli was the third-highest run-scorer in the previous IPL season, accumulating 657 runs at an average of 54.75 and a strike rate of 144.71 over 15 matches. His last appearance for India was in a three-match ODI series against New Zealand, where he scored a century in the final match, although India lost the series 2-1.
RCB's Complete Squad for IPL 2026
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.