IPL 2026: RCB vs SRH Today's Match Prediction, Match 1 - Who will win today’s IPL match?
RCB vs SRH Today Match Prediction (Source: Getty Images)
Published - 28 Mar 2026, 03:45 PM• Read time - 12 mins
Match Preview
The most-awaited tournament of the cricketing fraternity is back as the Indian Premier League 2026 is all set to get underway on Saturday, March 28. Defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru are all set to take on Sunrisers Hyderabad in the opening fixture of the tournament at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.
Having finally ended their 18-year-long wait for the IPL title in the previous season, RCB will look to start strong and make a statement win in the curtain raiser. The defending champions are suffering from player availability concerns as Josh Hazlewood, Nuwan Thushara and Yash Dayal won’t play in the season opener. However, RCB have enough bench strength to cover for them and make a strong start.
On the other hand, Sunrisers Hyderabad are without their captain Pat Cummins for the first few matches, and Ishan Kishan has been handed over the leadership duties in his place. All-rounder Jack Edwards has also been ruled out of the tournament and has been replaced by David Payne.
Given an almost neck-and-neck record between the two teams in IPL history, the upcoming fixture promises to be another high-voltage clash with power-packed performances from star players on both sides.
Match Details
|
Date |
Fixture |
Venue |
Start Time |
|
Saturday, March 28 |
Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Sunrisers Hyderabad, 1st Match |
M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru |
07:30 pm IST |
M. Chinnaswamy Stadium Stats in IPL
|
Category |
Details |
|
Total Matches |
100 |
|
Matches won batting first |
43 |
|
Matches won bowling first |
52 |
|
Tied |
1 |
|
No Result |
4 |
|
Average 1st innings score |
166 |
|
Average 2nd innings score |
156 |
|
Highest Total recorded |
287/3 (20 ovs) by SRH vs RCB, 2024 |
|
Lowest Total recorded |
82/10 (15.1 ovs) by RCB vs KKR, 2008 |
|
Highest score chased |
213/9 (20 ovs) by LSG vs RCB, 2023 |
|
Lowest score defended |
138/7 (20 ovs) By PBKS vs RCB, 2017 |
M Chinnaswamy Stadium Pitch Report and Playing Conditions
|
Aspect |
Batters |
Pacers |
Spinners |
|
Overall Assistance |
Good |
Good with the new ball |
Good |
|
Bounce |
Good |
Good |
Good |
|
Movement |
Minimal after initial overs |
Swing upfront |
Minimal grip and turn |
|
Best Phase |
Almost Throughout |
Powerplay overs |
Middle overs |
RCB vs SRH Head-to-Head Records in IPL
|
Category |
Details |
|
Matches Played |
25 |
|
Royal Challengers Bengaluru won |
11 |
|
Sunrisers Hyderabad won |
13 |
|
Tied |
01 |
RCB vs SRH Playing 11 Prediction
Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB)
Phil Salt, Virat Kohli, Rajat Patidar (C), Venkatesh Iyer, Jacob Bethell, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Romario Shepherd, Krunal Pandya, Rasikh Dar, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jacob Duffy
Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH)
Ishan Kishan (C & wk), Abhishek Sharma, Travis Head, Heinrich Klaasen, Liam Livingstone, Nitish Reddy, Salil Arora, Harshal Patel, Zeeshan Ansari, Jaydev Unadkat, Eshan Malinga
Player to watch out for in RCB vs SRH
Virat Kohli
The star batter has continued his golden run in the tournament over the last three years, scoring over 600 runs each season. Kohli continues to remain the backbone of the RCB batting unit and will aim for a strong start in the upcoming season with a big score against SRH.
Eshan Malinga
The Sri Lankan speedster had a brilliant previous season for SRH, where he scalped 13 wickets from seven innings at an average of 18.30. Malinga will be expected to shoulder the responsibility in the absence of Pat Cummins as SRH aim for a winning start.
Today’s Match Prediction: Royal Challengers Bengaluru to win
Disclaimer: This prediction is based on current form, team balance, and available match data. Cricket remains unpredictable, and actual results may vary.
