Kamal Ghorui
As Royal Challengers Bengaluru return to the Chinnaswamy Stadium as defending champions, their opening clash against Sunrisers Hyderabad promises to be a high-scoring, high-pressure contest. With both sides stacked with explosive batters and conditions expected to favour runs, individual brilliance could make all the difference.Here are five players who could shape the outcome of today’s game:
1. Virat Kohli
There is never a match where Kohli is not in focus, and this one is no different. The former RCB captain comes into the season after another prolific year, scoring 657 runs in IPL 2025 from 15 matches at an average of 54.75 and a strike rate of 144.71. Back at his home ground, Kohli will once again carry the responsibility of setting the tone. With expectations higher than ever after last season’s title win, all eyes will be on how he begins this campaign.
2. Abhishek Sharma
Abhishek’s recent form has been a mix of struggle and redemption. After a quiet T20 World Cup, he bounced back with a crucial half-century in the final. That knock could be the turning point he needed. In IPL 2025, he scored 439 runs in 14 matches, including a stunning 141 against Punjab Kings, striking at 193.39. SRH will hope he carries that attacking intent into the new season and provides early momentum.
3. Ishan Kishan
Fresh from an impressive T20 World Cup campaign where he finished as India’s second-highest run-scorer behind Sanju Samson, Ishan enters IPL 2026 with added responsibility. Leading SRH in the absence of Pat Cummins, he will be central to both their batting and leadership. Last season, he scored 354 runs in 14 matches at an average of 35.40 and a strike rate of 152.59. A strong start could set the tone for his captaincy stint.
4. Travis Head
One of the most dangerous openers in T20 cricket, Head brings aggression from ball one. The Australian left-hander scored 374 runs in 13 matches last season for SRH, maintaining a strike rate of 162.60. On a batting-friendly surface like Chinnaswamy, his ability to dominate the powerplay could put RCB under immediate pressure.
5. Phil Salt
Salt’s form coming into the IPL raises questions after a disappointing T20 World Cup, but the league offers him a chance to reset. He was a key figure in RCB’s title-winning campaign last season, scoring 403 runs in 13 innings at a blistering strike rate of 175.98, including four fifties. If he finds rhythm early, RCB could once again get flying starts at the top.With both teams boasting powerful batting units and key bowlers missing, this contest could well turn into a run-fest. For RCB, it is about starting strong as defending champions.
