How prepared is RCB for IPL this time? Know what are your strengths and weaknesses

When Rajat Patidar lifted the trophy in IPL 2025, the years-long wait of the fans was over. It was an 18-year hunger that ended with the victory of the IPL trophy. Now once again RCB has a chance to repeat history. Virat's heroes are ready for this, the schedule of the new season has also been announced.

The first match will be played between RCB and Hyderabad on 28th March. This time also the captaincy of the team will remain with Rajat Patidar. After the mini auction for the new season of IPL, many new players have joined the team who will show their strength for RCB for the first time. The biggest name among them is Venkatesh Iyer. What are going to be the plus points of RCB in the new season and where can the team remain weak?

RCB had performed brilliantly with both batting and bowling last season. The strength of the team in the top order was the pair of Virat Kohli and Phil Salt, last season this pair was considered the most dangerous. Kohli alone had scored 657 runs last season at a strike rate of more than 144. The mainstay in bowling was Josh Hazlewood who took 22 wickets last time in the tournament. Bhuvneshwar Kumar had taken 17 wickets for the second number team. Apart from this, the team has all-rounders like Krunal Pandya, Romario Shepherd, Venkatesh Iyer, Jacob Bethel, Swapnil Singh who make the team strong. Captain Patidar himself is an expert in scoring runs quickly.

Between which teams will the first match of IPL 2026 take place?

The biggest concern for RCB is the fitness of the fast bowlers. Injuries often trouble Hazlewood, the other fast bowler Yash Dayal has not played any such cricket since last season. The team has included Jacob Duffy and Mangesh Yadav as backup, but this will be the first time for them to play for a team in the IPL. Apart from this, in spin, the team has Suyyash Sharma as the only major leg spinner. Apart from this, Liam Livingstone's separation from the team also weakens him, because he had immense ability to hit leg spin.