RCB SWOT: Strong batting, weak bowling, inconsistent performance, lack of depth. Best XI: Kohli, Padikkal, Maxwell, de Villiers, Patidar, Sundar, Jamieson, Chahal, Saini, Siraj, Harshal.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) begin IPL 2026 as defending champions, a new position for the franchise. The pressure has shifted from trying to win their first title to proving they can win again. RCB has maintained continuity in their squad, retaining 17 players from the title-winning team. This gives them a sense of familiarity and reduces the need for early experimentation. The team’s strength lies in their batting unit, which offers a variety of options and flexibility. However, their bowling attack heavily relies on Josh Hazlewood, who will miss the initial part of the season, affecting their cleanest bowling build. RCB’s overseas options provide depth but also pose a challenge in selecting the best combination. Chinnaswamy Stadium’s unforgiving nature towards bowling imperfections remains a threat. Players like Jacob Bethell and Jacob Duffy have the opportunity to step up and contribute significantly to RCB’s campaign. Despite their strong squad, RCB faces challenges in maintaining consistency and addressing structural weaknesses to defend their title successfully.

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