IPL 2026, Match 16: Rajasthan Royals vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru Match Preview

Published - 09 Apr 2026, 10:58 IST | Updated - 09 Apr 2026, 11:22 IST

Two in-form teams, the Rajasthan Royals (RR) and the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), square off at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati in match No.16 of the Indian Premier League on Friday, April 10.

The Royals are currently placed at the top of the points table, having won three games they have played so far. Their wins have come against the Chennai Super Kings, the Gujarat Titans, and the Mumbai Indians. On the other hand, the Royal Challengers have won two games on the trot against the Sunrisers Hyderabad and the Chennai Super Kings.

Rajasthan and Bengaluru have very strong batting lineups, while the bowling looks a bit more compact for Riyan Parag's men. The new-ball bowlers in both teams are world class. Jacob Duffy and Bhuvneshwar Kumar start proceedings at RCB, while Jofra Archer and Nandre Burger share the new ball at the Royals.

The Royal Challengers would want to dismiss the Royals' opening pair of Yashasvi Jaiswal and Vaibhav Suryavanshi, as the left-handed duo has wreaked havoc so far in IPL 2026. On the other hand, the defending champions would want Virat Kohli and Phil Salt to lay a solid foundation so that Tim David can explode like he did in the last game against Chennai.

The Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati has hosted two games in IPL 2026 so far. The Royals chased down a 128-run target comfortably against the Super Kings in the first game. In the second, the Royals slammed 150/3 in an 11-over-per-side contest against the Mumbai Indians. In reply, Mumbai were restricted to 123/9. Fans can expect another high-scoring contest between two teams who have a plethora of boundary hitters.

Yashasvi Jaiswal, Vaibhav Suryavanshi, Dhruv Jurel (WK), Riyan Parag (C), Shimron Hetmyer, Donovan Ferreira, Ravindra Jadeja, Jofra Archer, Nandre Burger, Tushar Deshpande, Sandeep Sharma

Virat Kohli, Phil Salt, Devdutt Padikkal, Rajat Patidar (C), Jitesh Sharma (WK), Tim David, Romario Shepherd, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Abhinandan Singh, Jacob Duffy