IPL 2026: Defending champions RCB begin their title defense against SRH

BENGALURU: Till June 3, 2025, Royal Challengers Bangalore were labeled as underachievers – a team that had spent the previous 17 seasons chasing an elusive trophy. On a muggy night in Ahmedabad, that narrative finally changed. RCB was no longer based on individual stars but on collective performances, freeing themselves from long-term baggage and getting out of trouble.They will be defending their title, protecting their reputation and recalibrating expectations when they return to the M Chinnaswamy Stadium on Saturday night. RCB started their campaign as defending champions against South side Sunrisers Hyderabad – a feat that only the Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians have been able to successfully defend.

Although the season is still long, a good start is crucial. Chinnaswamy has not always been RCB’s bastion and the challenge is looming against an SRH side loaded with explosive batsmen.On the surface, the two teams share striking similarities. Both possess strong batting ability but neither has Australia’s premier pacer and they will rely on a mix of experienced Indian stars and promising youngsters. These conditions only add to the intrigue. The last IPL match played at the venue last season – RCB vs CSK – scored a whopping 424 runs while the home team defended 215 runs by just two runs. If the surface maintains its batting-friendly reputation, bowlers from both sides could be in for a long night.RCB largely retained the core players from their first-ever title and used mini-auctions to fill specific gaps. The additions of Venkatesh Iyer and England’s Jordan Cox bring flexibility, while young Indian recruits like Mangesh Yadav and Vihaan Malhotra add depth and future prospects.Their hitting remains their greatest strength. and Virat Kohli Phil Salter is expected to set the tone at the top, while Jacob Bethel’s recent performance adds another layer of energy. The middle team consists of experienced and fire-powerful guys like Rajat Patidar, Devdutt Padikkal, Jitesh Sharma, Tim David and Venkatesh Iyer. In fact, team management faces the unenviable headache of narrowing down a balanced roster.However, the absence of Josh Hazlewood, last season’s most influential bowler, could be a major setback. The Australian pacer is still recovering from injury troubles and has only rejoined the team on Thursday and will miss the match. His absence has left the onus on Bhuvneshwar Kumar to lead the attack, especially when there has traditionally been little margin for error. RCB are also missing Sri Lankan quick Nuwan Suchhara, who is yet to clear his fitness test in his home country. New Zealand pacer Jacob Duffy is likely to make his IPL debut in Hazlewood’s absence. He is expected to feature in an India-dominated bowling squad with youngsters Mangesh Yadav and Rasikh Dar vying for inclusion. The spin department of Krunal Pandya and Suyash Sharma will also play a key role in controlling the midfield.Meanwhile, SRH’s partnership with the bat looks equally strong. Led by Ishan Kishan, they have a devastating lineup of Abhishek Sharma, Travis Head, Heinrich Klaasen and Nitish Reddy. However, in the absence of regular skipper Pat Cummins, their bowling looked relatively immature, although they could draw on the experience of Harshar Patel, Brayden Kass and Jaidev Yunadkat.Away from live matches, it will be a somber return for RCB. Players will wear black armbands to commemorate the 11 people who died in a stampede during last year’s championship celebrations – a tragedy that continues to cast a pall over the team and the field.