IPL 2026: Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s strongest predicted XI against Sunrisers Hyderabad

Published - 21 May 2026, 19:15 IST | Updated - 21 May 2026, 19:37 IST

The Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) play their final league game of the 2026 Indian Premier League (IPL) when they travel to take on the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium on Friday, 22.

The two sides faced each other on the opening day of the 2026 season, with the defending champions securing a six-wicket victory at the M.Chinnaswamy Stadium. Rajat Patidar’s side have amassed 18 points from 13 matches and have qualified for the playoffs. However, a win against SRH would guarantee them a place in Qualifiers 1, giving them two chances of making it through to the final.

RCB have arguably been the best side during the league phase of the tournament, which is mainly down to how stable their first-choice playing XI has been. They have match-winners with both bat and ball, and are never reliant on just one player to help them get over the line.

For 13 matches this season, Virat Kohli has opened with an English batter, be it Phil Salt or Jacob Bethell. However, there is a possibility that the latter could be replaced with Ventakesh Iyer, based on the left-hander’s form. He scored an unbeaten 73 against the Punjab Kings in the previous game and is also an adequate top-order batter in the IPL.

According to reports, Phil Salt is back from England after recovering from his finger injury, but is expected to return to the playing XI in the playoffs.