Defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru are set to play the opening match of the IPL 2026 as per reports. The opposition they will be facing is not runners up of last season but it is going to be the 5-time IPL champions Mumbai Indians. The rivalry between these two sides has always been spectacular and this game is expected to kick-off the Indian Premier League 2026. Another angle will be the Rohit-Kohli one and the hype surrounding it. These two giants are set to clash in the IPL opener which is expected to be held on March 28.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru were brilliant in IPL 2025 and clinched their maiden IPL title. Rajat Patidar led the team well and there were plenty of contributions from every player throughout the campaign and they looked a complete side. Virat Kohli was the leading run getter for RCB as usual and it was his first ever IPL title and that must have felt really good for him. Royal Challengers Bengaluru have retained most of their core players for this season and made some good additions too.
On the other hand, Mumbai Indians are one of the most successful franchises in the history of IPL. They were led by Hardik Pandya and in the previous edition they lost to Punjab Kings in the Qualifier 2. Mumbai Indians are also a star-studded line up and they have a solid core of Indian batters and Jasprit Bumrah. The overseas players for this edition are really good and they will be spoilt for choices and that is always a good problem to have.
The fixtures for the initial IPL games are set to be released officially in the coming week and we can expect RCB to play the opening match against Mumbai Indians. Fans are eagerly waiting for the schedule as the IPL fever grips the country with just a few more weeks left for the biggest ever domestic T20 League in the world to begin. RO-KO will be back in action for the first time after the New Zealand ODI series and we can expect fireworks.
