Royal Challengers Bengaluru will begin IPL 2026 as the defending champions. The team won the IPL 2025 title after defeating Punjab Kings in the final by six runs. It was a historic moment because RCB lifted their first IPL trophy after 18 years.
After the victory celebrations, a tragic stampede incident took place near the stadium, which led to temporary restrictions at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium. Despite this situation, Bengaluru will still host the opening match of IPL 2026.
The city did not host matches during the Women’s World Cup or the Men’s T20 World Cup earlier, but it will now host the opening game of the new IPL season.
IPL 2026 Schedule Update
So far, only the first phase of the IPL 2026 schedule has been released. The announced fixtures currently cover matches up to April 12.
The rest of the schedule has not yet been released because elections are being held in some Indian states, which affects match planning and security arrangements.
All matches announced in the first phase will start at 7:30 PM. RCB will not play any afternoon matches during this period.
RCB IPL 2026 First Four Matches
The first four matches of Royal Challengers Bengaluru have been confirmed. The team will play two matches at home and two away games.
| Date | Match | Venue | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| March 28, 2026 | RCB vs Sunrisers Hyderabad | Bengaluru | 7:30 PM |
| April 5, 2026 | RCB vs Chennai Super Kings | Bengaluru | 7:30 PM |
| April 10, 2026 | Rajasthan Royals vs RCB | Guwahati | 7:30 PM |
| April 12, 2026 | Mumbai Indians vs RCB | Mumbai | 7:30 PM |
The opening match against Sunrisers Hyderabad in Bengaluru will mark the start of IPL 2026.
New Players Signed by RCB for IPL 2026
RCB added several new players to strengthen their squad for the upcoming season.
| Player |
|---|
| Venkatesh Iyer |
| Jacob Duffy |
| Satvik Deswal |
| Mangesh Yadav |
| Jordan Cox |
| Vicky Ostwal |
| Vihaan Malhotra |
| Kanishk Chouhan |
These signings bring additional depth to both batting and bowling departments.
RCB Retained Players for IPL 2026
Royal Challengers Bengaluru also retained several key players from their championship-winning squad.
| Player |
|---|
| 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 |
The team will rely on this mix of experienced players and new signings to defend their IPL title.
Also See : MI vs KKR IPL 2026 Tickets: Price, Booking Date, Wankhede Stadium Seats & Step-by-Step Booking Guide
RCB will enter the tournament with strong confidence after winning the previous season. With Rajat Patidar as captain and experienced players like Virat Kohli in the lineup, the team will aim to continue their winning momentum.
Fans will be especially excited to see RCB play at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, which is known for high-scoring matches and energetic crowds.
More fixtures for IPL 2026 are expected to be announced soon once the full schedule is released.
