Captain & Vice-Captain Picks
Travis Head
Heinrich Klaasen
Top 5 Must-Pick Players
Travis Head
Heinrich Klaasen
Virat Kohli
Glenn Maxwell
Abhishek Sharma
Full Player Rankings
| # | Player | Team | Role | Credits | Form | Venue | Pitch | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C | Travis Head | | Batter | 10 | 88 | 21 | 21 | 98.9 |
| VC | Heinrich Klaasen | | WK-Batter | 10 | 86 | 19.5 | 19.5 | 97.4 |
| 3 | Virat Kohli | | Batter | 10.5 | 85 | 22.5 | 19.5 | 96.7 |
| 4 | Glenn Maxwell | | All-rounder | 9 | 62 | 21 | 19.5 | 88.8 |
| 5 | Abhishek Sharma | | All-rounder | 8.5 | 70 | 15 | 18 | 85.4 |
| 6 | Faf du Plessis | | Batter | 9 | 68 | 19.5 | 18 | 84.3 |
| 7 | Pat Cummins | | Bowler | 9.5 | 80 | 16.5 | 13.5 | 82.5 |
| 8 | Josh Hazlewood | | Bowler | 9 | 78 | 16.5 | 12 | 80.2 |
| 9 | Mohammed Siraj | | Bowler | 9 | 72 | 18 | 12 | 78.5 |
| 10 | Bhuvneshwar Kumar | | Bowler | 8.5 | 68 | 15 | 12 | 74.1 |
Pitch Report — Chinnaswamy
Chinnaswamy is renowned as one of the best batting wickets in India. Expect high scores, with the short square boundaries making it a paradise for stroke players. Dew can play a role in evening games.
Teams batting second have a slight edge due to dew factor. Expect the toss winner to choose to chase.
Head-to-Head Record
Sunrisers Hyderabad have been dominant against Royal Challengers Bengaluru with 14 wins in 22 matches. The Southern Derby between Hyderabad and Bengaluru is one of the most intense regional rivalries in the IPL.
RCB vs SRH — Match Preview
The IPL 2026 season opener promises a spectacular clash between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Sunrisers Hyderabad at the iconic Chinnaswamy Stadium. RCB, desperate to shed the "no trophy" tag, face a reinvigorated SRH side led by Pat Cummins. This is the match that sets the tone for the entire tournament — 70,000 fans at the Chinnaswamy will create an electric atmosphere. The battle between Virat Kohli and SRH's pace attack will be the headline act of the opening night.
Why Watch This Match
- IPL 2026 season opener — sets the tone for the tournament
- Virat Kohli starts his quest for a maiden IPL title
- Travis Head vs Chinnaswamy — the ground where scores of 200+ are routine
- Pat Cummins returns as SRH captain after a strong 2025