Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) will be going into IPL 2026 on a high after winning their first IPL trophy in 2025. The wait is over for RCB, as they won their first-ever title under the captaincy of Rajat Patidar. This is for the first time in history that RCB is starting an IPL season as defending champions. The team is looking to win the title again and prove that their title win was no fluke.

RCB chose to retain most of their title-winning squad instead of making significant changes to it. The franchise went in for stability and added only a few smart additions in the IPL 2026 mini-auction that was held in Abu Dhabi. With a purse of ₹16.40 crore, RCB strengthened their bench by signing all-rounder Venkatesh Iyer for ₹7 crore as their biggest purchase.

The team also added New Zealand fast bowler Jacob Duffy for ₹2 crore as backup for Josh Hazlewood. Uncapped left-arm pacer Mangesh Yadav was signed for ₹5.20 crore as cover for Yash Dayal. Head coach Andy Flower and captain Rajat Patidar chose continuity over a major rebuild. The franchise released Liam Livingstone, Lungi Ngidi and Mayank Agarwal to free overseas slots and balance the squad, but the championship core remains unchanged as RCB prepare to defend their title.

Predicted opening pair for Royal Challengers Bengaluru in Indian Premier League 2026

Virat Kohli remains the backbone of the Royal Challengers Bengaluru batting lineup. The legendary batter is still the leading run-scorer in the IPL with over 8,600 runs to his credit. Even in 2026, his fitness level and appetite to score runs are exceptional. Kohli's job at the top is to provide stability to the innings while maintaining a decent run rate in the powerplay. His ability to manage the run rate of the innings and accelerate the run rate later on makes him the ideal choice to open the innings. Once again, the RCB fans would want their favorite to lead the batting chart for the franchise.

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Phil Salt is likely to open the innings with Kohli in the 2026 season. The wicketkeeper batter from England would provide explosive strength to the opening combination with his aggressive style of batting at the top of the innings. Salt is known to attack the bowlers from the first ball of the innings and make the most out of the powerplay overs. However, his recent form in the T20 World Cup 2026, where he managed to score only 130 runs, has caused a lot of concern. Young England batter Jacob Bethell could be a potential opening partner. Still, RCB are likely to begin the season with the Kohli-Salt opening combination.

RCB’s middle-order strength and all-round options for IPL 2026

Devdutt Padikkal is likely to bat at the third position for Royal Challengers Bengaluru in IPL 2026. The left-handed batter serves as a link between the explosive opening pair and the middle order. He is known for his smooth strokes. He can handle both spin and pace well. Padikkal can rotate strike and also speed up the scoring when needed. However, Venkatesh Iyer, who joined RCB for ₹7 crore in the auction, will compete for the same spot. Iyer brings similar left-handed batting strength along  with medium-pace bowling, but Padikkal’s knowledge of the squad and steady showings make him the favorite to open the campaign.

Captain Rajat Patidar remains a vital player for the RCB’s middle order. He guided his team to a historic first IPL title in 2025 and continues to lead them in 2026. In the winning season, he scored 312 runs with a strike rate of 143.78. He is very strong against spin bowling and manages the middle overs with smart shots. His calm mindset and good leadership earned the trust of the team and coach Andy Flower, Patidar has grown into one of the most reliable captains in the IPL.

Jitesh Sharma is to bat in number five spot while also handling wicketkeeping duties. The aggressive right-handed batter was included in the squad to provide the middle order with immense finishing power. In the 2025 IPL season, the aggressive batter scored his best runs. He scored 261 runs with a strike rate of 176.35. Jitesh is known for his ability to score quick runs by hitting huge shots. He can attack the bowlers immediately to accelerate the innings. His presence in the lineup gives RCB extra confidence during the final overs.

Tim David is expected to bat at number six for Royal Challengers Bengaluru as a finisher. The Australian power-hitting batsman is famous for hitting huge sixes. He is also good at maintaining a high strike rate above 170. The main task of Tim David is to attack the bowlers in the last overs to reach a huge score. At number seven, Romario Shepherd gives the team a strong all-round option. The West Indian player can hit massive sixes in the death overs and also contribute with useful medium-pace bowling. His variations make him effective during pressure situations.

At number eight, Krunal Pandya is an important all-rounder. In the 2025 season, he was instrumental in the team’s championship win. He took 17 wickets in 15 matches and also scored 109 runs. His top score of 73 was against Delhi Capitals. The ability of Krunal to contribute with both bat and ball makes him an important player for the team.

RCB’s bowling attack that could dominate in IPL 2026

Bhuvneshwar Kumar provides the needed experience and skill to the bowling lineup of RCB. Bhuvneshwar is a bowler known to swing the new ball and pick wickets in the powerplay. He can contribute to the final overs of the innings with the help of yorkers and slow-bowled deliveries as well. He played more than 150 games in the IPL with almost 200 wickets to his name. He won the Purple Cap twice.

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Josh Hazlewood leads the pace attack of RCB in IPL 2026. Since his arrival in 2022, Hazlewood has picked 45 wickets in 27 games played over three seasons. Hazlewood is a reliable bowler with great accuracy, skill, and ability to provide bounce to the ball. He was a major contributor to Royal Challengers Bengaluru's first-ever IPL trophy in 2025. RCB have signed a pacer from New Zealand named Jacob Duffy as a back-up option, giving the team extra depth in the fast-bowling department.

Yash Dayal revived his fortunes after joining RCB in 2024, taking 28 wickets in 29 games across two seasons. His left-arm angle and the fact that he has the option to bowl in all innings make him a useful bowler, but his availability for IPL 2026 is uncertain due to legal issues. To prepare for the worst case, RCB has signed uncapped left-arm pacer Mangesh Yadav for ₹5.20 crore. Mangesh would likely join the playing XI if Dayal is not available to bowl.

Impact Player: Young leg-spinner Suyash Sharma leads the spin attack for RCB and is often used as an Impact Player. Suyash was bought by RCB for ₹2.60 crore in the 2024 auction. He played 14 games in 2025, taking 8 wickets at an economy rate of 8.84. His best bowling was 3/17 against the Punjab Kings.

Strongest Playing XI for RCB in IPL 2026

Virat Kohli, Phil Salt, Devdutt Padikkal, Rajat Patidar (C), Jitesh Sharma (WK), Tim David, Romario Shepherd, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Josh Hazlewood, Yash Dayal

Impact Sub: Suyash Sharma