The Indian Premier League 2026 is moving at a lightning pace, and Match 26 brings us to the batting paradise of Bengaluru. Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) are currently enjoying a stellar run, sitting comfortably at the second spot on the points table with four wins in five games. On the other hand, Delhi Capitals (DC) have been inconsistent, placed fifth and desperate to claw their way back into the top four.
Pitch Report: M. Chinnaswamy Stadium
The M. Chinnaswamy Stadium is renowned for two things: flat tracks and short boundaries. Measuring roughly 65 meters, the boundaries here are a nightmare for bowlers. Since this is a 3:30 PM afternoon start, the pitch might be slightly dry initially, but historically, the ball comes onto the bat beautifully under the Bengaluru sun. High scores are the norm here, and anything below 200 might be difficult to defend.
Team News and Predicted Playing XIs
Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) Under Rajat Patidar’s leadership, RCB has adopted a "fearless" brand of cricket. The captain himself is in red-hot form, striking at over 210 this season. Virat Kohli remains the anchor at the top, while Phil Salt provides the early explosion.
Predicted XI: Virat Kohli, Phil Salt (WK), Rajat Patidar (C), Devdutt Padikkal, Jitesh Sharma, Jordan Cox, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Josh Hazlewood, Yash Dayal, Suyash Sharma, Nuwan Thushara.
Impact Player: Devdutt Padikkal / Rasikh Dar.
Delhi Capitals (DC) Axar Patel’s DC is looking for stability. KL Rahul has been the marquee addition to provide technical balance, but his strike rate in the powerplay remains a talking point. Kuldeep Yadav will be the key to slowing down RCB’s middle-order charge.
Predicted XI: KL Rahul (WK), Pathum Nissanka, Tristan Stubbs, David Miller, Axar Patel (C), Nitish Rana, Ashutosh Sharma, Vipraj Nigam, Kuldeep Yadav, T. Natarajan, Lungi Ngidi.
Impact Player: Ashutosh Sharma.
Top Dream11 Picks for RCB vs DC
1. Virat Kohli (RCB): You cannot leave Kohli out at Chinnaswamy. His record here is legendary, and he is currently among the top run-getters in IPL 2026. 2. Rajat Patidar (RCB): The captain is leading from the front. His intent to attack from ball one makes him a high-reward fantasy pick. 3. Axar Patel (DC): As the captain and primary all-rounder, Axar will contribute with both bat and ball. His middle-over spin could be crucial against RCB’s right-handers. 4. KL Rahul (DC): Despite strike rate concerns, Rahul is a safe bet for points as he often anchors the innings and provides wicket-keeping points. 5. Josh Hazlewood (RCB): On a flat deck, Hazlewood’s discipline and bounce make him the most likely wicket-taker for the home side.
Dream11 Team Suggestion (Small League)
Wicket-keepers: Phil Salt, KL Rahul
Batters: Virat Kohli (C), Rajat Patidar (VC), David Miller, Tristan Stubbs
All-rounders: Axar Patel, Vipraj Nigam
Bowlers: Josh Hazlewood, Kuldeep Yadav, T. Natarajan
Conclusion
RCB enters this contest as the favorites due to their home advantage and the explosive form of their top order. However, if DC’s spin duo of Axar and Kuldeep can capitalize on the afternoon dryness, we might see an upset. For your Dream11 team, prioritize top-order batters and death-over specialists.