Royal Challengers Bengaluru, also popularly called as RCB, completed their long-awaited dream to win a title last IPL season, where they lifted their first IPL trophy after beating Punjab Kings in the IPL 2025 Final. It will be the first time that RCB will play as the defending champions in an IPL season when IPL 2026 starts. 

As tradition, the defending champions RCB will play the tournament opener when they host SunRisers Hyderabad at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on March 28. 

While the first phase of the IPL 2026 schedule has been revealed with the first 20 matches fixtures, RCB have got four games, including two home and two away matches. 

RCB IPL 2026 Tickets: How and Where to Buy Royal Challengers Bengaluru 1st Phase Home Match Tickets?

Royal Challengers Bengaluru IPL 2026 Schedule

Without any doubt, Rajat Patidar is set to lead the defending champions, as RCB are dreaming of successfully defending the title, which is a rare record in the past 18 years of the tournament. 

IPL 2026: RCB Complete Squad

Rajat Patidar (Captain), Virat Kohli, Devdutt Padikkal, Phil Salt, Jitesh Sharma, Krunal Pandya, Swapnil Singh, Tim David, Romario Shepherd, Jacob Bethell, Josh Hazlewood, Yash Dayal, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Nuwan Thushara, Rasikh Salam, Abhinandan Singh, Suyash Sharma, Venkatesh Iyer, Jacob Duffy, Satvik Deswal, Mangesh Yadav, Jordan Cox, Vicky Ostwal, Vihaan Malhotra, Kanishk Chouhan