IPL 2026: Two players OUT! RCB to change playing XI vs MI

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) is expected to make multiple changes in their playing combination for tonight’s match against the Mumbai Indians (MI). RCB suffered their first defeat in the previous match against the Rajasthan Royals.

Therefore, the defending champions are expected to consider some changes in their line-up to get their rhythm back. Phil Salt has been struggling with his form since the 2026 T20 World Cup. The England opener’s struggle continues with RCB as well. Phil Salt can be dropped from the team for the MI match at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.

Who will join the playing XI if Phils Salts drops vs MI

If the management drops Salt from the opening slot, then an Indian batter can be paired up with Virat Kohli to kick-start the innings. Apart from Virat and Phil, Devdutt Padikkal and Jacob Bethell are the only other players in the team who can be used as opening batters.

Padikkal has been doing well at the number 3 position and has made an impact with the bat. The Indian top-order batter can also be used as an impact player. If Salt goes out of the playing line-up, then between Padikkal and Bethell, one can be used as an impact player to support the batting against the star-studded bowling line-up of the Mumbai Indians, who have the bowlers like Jasprit Bumrah, Trent Boult, Deepak Chahar, Corbin Bosch, and also the captain Hardik Pandya.

Jacob Duffy can joins hands with Josh Hazelwood and Bhuvneshwar Kumar

Josh Hazelwood made his return in competitive cricket after a long rehabilitation process. In his first IPL 2026 match, which was against the Rajasthan Royals.  Hazelwood was included in the playing XI in place of another overseas pacer, Jacob Duffy, for the Rajasthan match. Without Duffy in the frontline, the bowling attack of Bengaluru looked kind of blunt against the attacking RR batters.

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If Phil Salt drops from the team, then RCB will have a free slot for an overseas player. Duffy can be an easy fit in the team. With Hazelwood, Duffy, and Bhuvneshwar Kumar, the team can create a formidable pace bowling pack. Emerging pacer Abhinandan Singh was too expensive against Rajasthan, conceding an economy rate of 18.00 in 3 overs. His chances to play against the Mumbai Indians, which have the prolific batters like Rohit Sharma, Ryan Rickelton, Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav, and Pandya.

Will Suyash Sharma play vs the Mumbai Indians?

To take on the MI batters, the Royal Challengers Bengaluru can consider an extra spinner as well in their playing combination. Against Rajasthan, while most of the pacers were conceding an excessive amount of runs, Krunal Pandya was exceptional with his spin. In 4 overs, Krunal claimed a couple of wickets for an economy rate of 7.50. He lacked support from the other end.

Suyash Sharma, another spinner of RCB, is a strong contender to be in tonight’s match in Mumbai. If Suyash joins the team, then Krunal will have a spin bowling partner in the middle. If the pacer proved ineffective against the MI batters, then RCB captain Rajat Patidar can go with two spinners from both ends if they permit Suyash Sharma to play alongside Krunal Pandya. Overall, multiple changes are expected to be seen in the Royal Challengers Bengaluru playing combination against the Mumbai Indians.