Last Updated on 1 hour ago by Charbel Coorey

The impressive Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) are back in action less than 48 hours after beating Lucknow Super Giants with ease. The defending champions have been excellent in this campaign to date, winning four of their five matches to sit second on the table.

At the forefront of their good form has been impact. Captain Rajat Patidar resembles that the most, as the ever-consistent Virat Kohli sets the tone at the top. The fact that RCB have conceded 200+ four times and won three of those matches speaks volumes of their batting at the moment.

But, that last fact can represent an opportunity for Delhi Capitals (DC). They’ll need to get going with the bat here to get their campaign back on track in what has been a strange week or so. David Miller’s refusal to take a single to tie the game against Gujarat came back to bite on April 9th, before DC handed Chennai Super Kings their first win on April 12th.

Can the bowling attack keep RCB’s in-form batting lineup in check? Lots rests on the likes of Lungi Ngidi, Kuldeep Yadav and Axar Patel to deliver a victory for DC in Bengaluru.

IPL 2026 26th Match: RCB vs DC Possible Playing XIIs

RCB could opt for caution with Josh Hazlewood. The pacer won the man of the match award against LSG, but there is the chance he is rested here given there is a quick turnaround.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru: 1. Phil Salt (OS), 2. Virat Kohli, 3. Devdutt Padikkal, 4. Rajat Patidar (c), 5. Jitesh Sharma (wk), 6. Tim David (OS), 7. Romario Shepherd (OS), 8. Krunal Pandya, 9. Bhuvneshwar Kumar, 10. Josh Hazlewood/Jacob Duffy (OS), 11. Rasikh Salam, 12. Suyash Sharma

DC may stick with the same team that fell short against CSK.

Delhi Capitals: 1. Pathum Nissanka (OS), 2. KL Rahul (wk), 3. Sameer Rizvi, 4. Axar Patel (c), 5. David Miller (OS), 6. Tristan Stubbs (OS), 7. Ashutosh Sharma, 8. Auqib Nabi, 9. Kuldeep Yadav, 10. Lungi Ngidi (OS), 11. T Natarajan, 12. Mukesh Kumar

M Chinnaswamy Stadium Bengaluru Pitch Report and Weather

The average first innings score in three matches here in IPL 2026 is 199. LSG’s 146 on Thursday brings this average well down after SRH hit 201/9 in the tournament opener and RCB smashed 250/3 against CSK. The chasing team has won twice.

Pace bowlers have enjoyed more success at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium this season. Eight of the top ten wicket-takers here are pacers, with Bhuvneshwar Kumar topping the list with seven.

A very hot and mostly clear afternoon is forecast in Bengaluru with a top of around 35 degrees.

Which bowlers and batters are considered most likely to perform?

Below are some interesting insights that could decide this contest, according to SPODA AI data.

• Rajat Patidar has a 50% probability of making a 30+ score according to AI predictive analysis. This is the highest probability of any player.
• Virat Kohli is close behind with a 49.24% probability of making a 30+ score. KL Rahul is next with a 48.92% chance.
• The in-form Josh Hazlewood is considered a 43.33% chance of taking 2+ wickets. This is the highest probability of any bowler.

For more such information, check out SPODA AI below – a platform that can help you create winning fantasy teams. You can even ask a question. If you sign up, you will receive 3 FREE match passes to start.

Fantasy Cricket Tips for RCB vs DC: Key Players to Watch/Key Stats

Top wicketkeeper picks:

• KL Rahul has an outstanding record against RCB. The opener has 774 runs against them at an average of 70.4 and strike rate of 143.1.
• Phil Salt is striking at 169.51 in this IPL. He won man of the match for his 78 (36) against MI on April 12.

Key batter picks:

• Virat Kohli is a must-pick in fantasy cricket. In his last 37 IPL knocks, Kohli has scored 1,827 runs at an average of 63 and strike rate of 152. Nearly half (18) have resulted in a 50+ score (15 50s, 3 100s).
• Rajat Patidar is having a season to remember. His 222 runs come at a superb strike rate of 213.46, with two fifties in five matches.
• Pathum Nissanka has struck three 40+ scores in a row (vs MI, GT and CSK).
• Sameer Rizvi is DC’s leading runscorer (166) and has two man of the match awards in this IPL.

Top allrounder picks:

• Krunal Pandya has picked up 271 Dream11 points so far in IPL 2026. He is RCB’s equal-leading wicket-taker with seven.
• Axar Patel has not got going yet with the bat this season, but today could be his day. He averages 34.9 with a strike rate of 151.6 against RCB (279 runs), along with 21 wickets (avg. 26.1, SR 21.4).

Key bowler picks:

• Josh Hazlewood is an excellent exponent of hit-the-deck bowling, which will be important in this game. Overall, Hazlewood has taken nine wickets in five IPL matches at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium (avg. 16.7, SR 11.9).
• Bhuvneshwar Kumar is RCB’s equal-leading wicket-taker with seven. He too enjoys bowling at this ground in the IPL: 17 inns, 22 wickets, avg. 25, SR 17.4.
• Lungi Ngidi against RCB’s powerful batting promises to be an interesting contest. He has fantasy value as he bowls the tough overs and possesses an excellent slower ball.

Other Players to Consider for your Fantasy Cricket Teams

• Devdutt Padikkal started the season superbly with scores of 61 and 50. He missed out in his last two knocks (14 and 10) but has a strong record batting at three since last season: 14 inns, 382 runs, avg. 29.4, SR 161.2.
• Rasikh Salam is fresh off a four-wicket haul against LSG.
• Kuldeep Yadav has seven wickets in five IPL matches at Bengaluru at an economy of just 7.15 (SR 17.1).
• Mukesh Kumar has dismissed Virat Kohli once in 10 balls in the IPL.
• Tim David is striking at 216.17 in IPL 2026 (147 runs).

Other Stats and Important Matchups

• Head-to-head: Matches 33, RCB 20, DC 12.
• Bhuvneshwar Kumar vs. KL Rahul (IPL): 99 balls, 109 runs, two wickets.
• Josh Hazlewood vs. KL Rahul (IPL): 51 balls, 85 runs, one wicket.
• Axar Patel vs. Virat Kohli (IPL): 86 balls, 97 runs, one wicket.
• Axar Patel vs. Tim David (all T20s): 44 balls, 58 runs, two wickets.
• Kuldeep Yadav vs. Virat Kohli (IPL): 64 balls, 75 runs, one wicket.

IPL 2026 26th Match: RCB vs DC Dream11 Prediction Today

Note: The below teams are not based on the final playing XIs. We may not be able to update these in time. Use the stats and commentary in this article, as well as your own instincts, to create your teams.

Option 1:

Option 2:

For predictive analysis that could help guide you in creating your fantasy cricket teams, check out SPODA AI (AI Cricket Prediction & Match Analysis Tool) below. If you sign up, you will receive 3 FREE match passes to start.

IPL 2026 26th Match: RCB vs DC Match Prediction – Who will win?

RCB will win.

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