The highly anticipated festival of cricket the IPL is set to commence at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, India, featuring a fierce showdown between two of its heavyweight teams: Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Sunrisers Hyderabad. The opening match of IPL 2026, in which Royal Challengers Bengaluru will face off against Sunrisers Hyderabad, is scheduled to be played on March 28 at Bengaluru's M. Chinnaswamy Stadium; with star players like Virat Kohli and Heinrich Klaasen taking the field in this contest, fans are anticipating a high-scoring encounter.
RCB vs SRH Head-to-Head Record
Throughout the entire history of the IPL, matches played between these two teams have always been fiercely contested encounters. This rivalry, which began with the 2016 final, continues to ignite the passion of fans to this day.
- Total Matches: 26
- SRH Wins: 13
- RCB Wins: 11
- No Result: 2
In terms of overall records, SRH holds a slight edge; however, since 2024, RCB has completely transformed its game. The momentum is currently in RCB's favor—particularly at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.
RCB vs SRH Head-to-Head Record at Chinnaswamy Stadium
- Total Matches: 9
- SRH Wins: 3
- RCB Wins: 9
- No Result: 1 (Abandoned in 2017)
- Highest Team Total: 287/3 by SRH vs RCB in 2024 (Current IPL record).
- RCB's Highest Total: 262/7 in 2024, nearly chasing down the record 287.
- Lowest Team Total: 130/8 by RCB and 130/7 by SRH (2013).
- Most Memorable Match: The 2016 IPL Final, where SRH defeated RCB by 8 runs to claim their maiden title at this venue.
- Recent Encounter (2024): SRH won by 25 runs in a historic high-scoring match where nearly 550 runs were scored.
RCB vs SRH: A Memorable Match
No one can forget that match from IPL 2024 when SRH posted a mammoth total of 287/3 against RCB. It was the highest total in the history of the IPL. Travis Head's century and Heinrich Klaasen's explosive onslaught left the RCB bowlers helpless. Although RCB staged a spirited counterattack to score 262 runs, the victory ultimately went to SRH. In 2026, RCB has a golden opportunity to avenge that defeat.
RCB vs SRH Key Player Stats
- Virat Kohli (The Run Machine): Kohli's bat always does the talking against SRH. He has scored 805 runs in this fixture.
- Bhuvneshwar Kumar: Interestingly, in 2026, Bhuvneshwar is now playing for RCB, whereas previously he had taken 19 wickets for SRH.
- Wanindu Hasaranga: His spell of 5/18 for RCB (2022) is considered the best bowling performance in this fixture to date.
In the 2026 season, significant changes have taken place in the squads of both teams. RCB no longer relies solely on its batting; their pace attack is now far more disciplined than ever before. Meanwhile, SRH has further bolstered the depth of its batting lineup, enabling them once again to successfully chase down or defend scores exceeding 250.
RCB vs SRH in IPL 2026
In the 2026 season, significant changes have taken place in the squads of both teams. RCB no longer relies solely on its batting; their pace attack is now far more disciplined than ever before. Meanwhile, SRH has further bolstered the depth of its batting lineup, enabling them once again to successfully chase down or defend scores exceeding 250.
Recent Important Matches (2024–2025)
- May 23, 2025 (Lucknow): SRH (231/6) defeated RCB (189) by 42 runs (Ishan Kishan scored 94*).
- April 25, 2024: RCB defeated SRH by 35 runs.
- April 15, 2024 (Bengaluru): SRH (287/3) defeated RCB (262/7) by 25 runs – a classic high-scoring encounter.
- In 2023, RCB registered an 8-wicket victory.
RCB vs SRH Player Stats
| Player | Team | Role | Key Stats against Opponent | Recent Form (Last 10 matches) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Virat Kohli | RCB | Batter | 805 runs (Avg 36.59) | 471 runs (Avg 58.88, SR 144.47) |
| Abhishek Sharma | SRH | Batter | 1,575 career runs (SR 167.37) | 406 runs (Avg 45.11, SR 200) |
| Heinrich Klaasen | SRH | WK-Batter | 104 off 51 vs RCB (2023) | 362 runs (Avg 51.71, SR 171.56) |
| Bhuvneshwar Kumar | RCB* | Bowler | 19 wickets (All-time high) | 12 wickets (Econ 9.89, SR 18.5) |
| Pat Cummins | SRH | Bowler | 18 wickets in a single season (2024) | 13 wickets (Econ 7.91, SR 16.92) |
RCB vs SRH pitch reports
The pitch at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium is considered an excellent track for batting, as the boundaries here are short and the ball comes onto the bat beautifully. This pitch is also helpful for fast bowlers; last year, seamers found significant bounce at this venue. The average score at this stadium typically ranges between 200 and 210 runs; therefore, you can expect a flurry of runs—regardless of which team bats first as both squads are packed with explosive hitters.
Also Read: When and why was the IPL Opening Ceremony cancelled?
