New Delhi. The date of 28 March 2026 is going to be recorded in golden and emotional letters in the pages of Indian cricket history. In the opening match of IPL, defending champion Royal Challengers Bangalore will start their title defense campaign against Sunrisers Hyderabad at their home ground M. Chinnaswamy Stadium. But this match is not only a game but also an 'emotional comeback' for the fans of Bengaluru. In the schedule of the first phase of the tournament, 20 matches will be played till April 12. The schedule for the remaining season will be finalized only after the announcement of election dates in the states of West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Assam.
Last year i.e. in IPL 2025, RCB did what crores of fans around the world were waiting for for the last 18 years. In a brilliant campaign, RCB won 9 out of 14 matches in the league stage and finished second in the points table. Continuing their winning streak in the playoffs, they won their first IPL title by defeating Punjab Kings by 6 runs in the qualifiers and then in the finals. This victory turned the slogan of 'Ee Sala Cup Namdu' into reality not only in Bengaluru but also in the cricket world.
Chinnaswamy: Memories, tears and a new dawn
This time the opening match is very special for Chinnaswamy Stadium. Last year, during the celebrations after the title win, the stampede that broke out outside the stadium had turned happiness into mourning. 11 people lost their lives and many others were injured in that tragic accident. This is the first time after that incident that cricket is returning to Chinnaswamy Stadium. The RCB team that took the field and the thousands of fans present there will have fresh memories of those teammates who lost their lives while celebrating this historic victory. This match will be like a tribute to those departed.
New army under the captaincy of Rajat Patidar
For IPL 2026, RCB has retained Rajat Patidar as captain, who made the team champion last year. The team has a combination of Virat Kohli's experience and Phil Salt's aggression. At the same time, experienced names like Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Josh Hazlewood will give edge in bowling. When the Chinnaswamy lights come on on March 28, the noise will not be just for victory, but for the passion that made RCB champions and the strength that gave a city the strength to overcome grief and smile again.
| date | competition | place | Time (Time – IST) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 28 March | RCB vs Sunrisers Hyderabad | Bengaluru | 3:30 PM |
| 05 April | rcb vs chennai super kings | Bengaluru | 7:30 PM |
| 10th April | Rajasthan Royals vs RCB | Guwahati | 7:30 PM |
| 12 April | Mumbai Indians vs RCB | Mumbai | 7:30 PM |
RCB's full squad
Virat Kohli, Phil Salt, Devdutt Padikkal, Rajat Patidar (captain), Tim David, Krunal Pandya, Romario Shepherd, Jitesh Sharma, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Yash Dayal, Josh Hazlewood, Suyash Sharma, Abhinandan Singh, Jacob Bethel, Nuwan Thushara, Rasik Dar, Swapnil Singh, Venkatesh Iyer, Jacob Duffy, Satwik Deshwal, Mangesh Yadav, Jordan Cox, Vicky Ostwal, Vihaan Malhotra, Kanishk Chauhan.
