Rajat Patidar-led RCB hand IPL debuts to Duffy and Abhinandan, while SRH skipper Ishan Kishan backs Salil Arora in season opener

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Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) captain Rajat Patidar won the toss and chose to bowl first against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in the opening match of IPL 2026, setting the tone for an exciting start to the tournament.

Stand-in SRH captain Ishan Kishan, leading in place of the injured Pat Cummins, remained unfazed by the toss result, indicating that the fresh pitch conditions were unlikely to change significantly as the game progressed.

The match marked IPL debuts for three players, with RCB handing opportunities to New Zealand pacer Jacob Duffy and uncapped Indian seamer Abhinandan Singh. The 28-year-old Abhinandan earned his spot after impressing scouts in the UPT20 league, despite not having played an official state-level match. He was preferred over left-arm pacer Mangesh Yadav. Duffy, meanwhile, is expected to play a key role until premier quick Josh Hazlewood regains full fitness.

RCB’s playing XI featured a strong mix of experience and firepower, including Virat Kohli, Phil Salt, Tim David and Romario Shepherd. However, there was no place for England’s Jacob Bethell in the starting lineup. Impact substitutes for RCB included Devdutt Padikkal and Venkatesh Iyer, offering additional flexibility.

Sunrisers Hyderabad also introduced a debutant in Salil Arora, who made headlines in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy with an impressive tally of 28 sixes—second only to Kishan in the tournament. Despite his explosive form, SRH opted to leave out Liam Livingstone from the starting XI. Key overseas players Travis Head, Heinrich Klaasen and Eshan Malinga were included, strengthening their lineup.

SRH also named powerplay specialist David Payne, fresh off successful campaigns in the BBL and ILT20, among their Impact Sub options.

With fresh faces, strategic selections and strong squads on both sides, the RCB vs SRH IPL 2026 opener promises high-intensity cricket and a glimpse of emerging talent on the big stage.