Match 26 | IPL 2026 | April 18, 2026 | M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru
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Match Overview
RCB vs DC IPL 2026 Match Preview, Royal Challengers Bengaluru will take on Delhi Capitals in the 26th match of the Indian Premier League 2026 on April 18 at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru, with the game set to begin at 3:30 PM IST. This is an afternoon blockbuster, the first game of a double-header Saturday and promises to be one of the most entertaining fixtures of the season so far.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru currently hold the 2nd position on the points table after playing five matches, where they have won four games. Meanwhile, the Delhi Capitals sit in 5th place, having won two out of four matches.
Form Guide
Royal Challengers Bengaluru are in red-hot form. Almost a month into IPL 2026, Royal Challengers Bengaluru have evolved into the most complete unit in the competition. Focus has largely remained on Virat Kohli, and the batting talisman has not disappointed his fans either, holding the Orange Cap for the time being. But even Kohli would acknowledge that the RCB batting no longer solely depends on him. Skipper Rajat Patidar, Devdutt Padikkal, Phil Salt and Tim David have all left their indelible marks on RCB’s victories this season with buccaneering batting efforts.
Patidar, in particular, has been impressive, leading the chart with 21 maximums from five matches. This is a team firing on all cylinders.
Delhi Capitals, however, have hit a wall after a bright start. The Capitals are still searching for capable shoulders to scaffold their batting. They have some experienced batters such as KL Rahul, Pathum Nissanka, Tristan Stubbs, David Miller and Nitish Rana, but none of them have been consistent so far. Young batter Sameer Rizvi alone has shown some stomach for fight, scoring two half-centuries. Skipper Axar Patel too has been a big letdown this season, managing just three wickets and as many runs across four matches.
Key Stats: Virat Kohli in IPL 2026
Virat Kohli once again finds himself at the top of the Orange Cap list. With 228 runs in five games, he has taken his game to a new level in 2026, playing with more intent. He has scored his runs at a strike rate of 158.33, the highest for him in the IPL so far. His record against Delhi is equally stellar, Kohli has an average near 50 across 30 innings against DC, and has comfortably crossed the 34-run mark in three of his last five innings, smashing two explosive half-centuries.
Head-to-Head Record
There have been 33 matches in total between these two sides. RCB has won 20, while Delhi Capitals has won 12. One match has ended without a result. The teams split the two encounters last season, each winning at the other’s home.
In the last 10 head-to-head encounters, the Royal Challengers hold the upper hand with six victories, while the Delhi Capitals have managed four wins.
Predicted Playing XI
Royal Challengers Bengaluru (Predicted XI):
Virat Kohli, Phil Salt, Rajat Patidar (C), Devdutt Padikkal, Jitesh Sharma (WK), Tim David, Romario Shepherd, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Josh Hazlewood, Suyash Sharma.
Delhi Capitals (Predicted XI):
KL Rahul (WK), Pathum Nissanka, David Miller, Tristan Stubbs, Sameer Rizvi, Ashutosh Sharma, Axar Patel (C), Auqib Nabi, Kuldeep Yadav, Lungi Ngidi, T. Natarajan.
Injury Update: The Capitals are still waiting on the fitness of Mitchell Starc, who is yet to arrive for the tournament.
Pitch Report & Weather
The pitch at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium is batting friendly. For second innings, dew will be more effective for bowlers. The team winning the toss is likely to choose to bowl first. Scores can go above 185, and fast bowlers may get help early but it later becomes easy for batters.
According to Howstat, the average first-innings score in IPL matches at the Chinnaswamy Stadium is 167 runs. The record for the highest team total in Bengaluru is held by Sunrisers Hyderabad, who posted a score of 287/3 against RCB in 2024.
The weather in Bengaluru will feel harsh at the start of this match. On April 18th, the temperature in Bengaluru will be around 37°C at around 3 PM. By 7 PM, it will drop to around 33°C. No rain is expected, ensuring a full 40-over contest.
Toss Prediction
Given the historical chasing trends, the heavy evening dew, and the true bounce of the Chinnaswamy surface, the captain winning the toss will undoubtedly opt to bowl first and chase down a target. Both captains will be keen to field first. As of the time of writing, the toss has not yet taken place — check live updates at BattingFirst.com for the confirmed toss result.
Key Player Battles to Watch
Virat Kohli vs Axar Patel: Expect Delhi skipper Axar Patel to bowl early in the powerplay, potentially having the chance to stop Kohli early. The left-arm spinner has picked up just three wickets in the season but has bowled tight at an economy of 7.86. The pair have met in 13 innings, where Kohli has scored 97 runs off 86 balls and has been dismissed once.
Rajat Patidar vs Kuldeep Yadav: The left-arm wrist-spinner has not been at his best in IPL 2026, picking up just three wickets in four matches at an economy of 9.85. But his quality as a decisive player is undeniable. The pair has met in just two innings, with Patidar managing 16 runs in 13 balls, and Kuldeep having dismissed the RCB skipper once.
KL Rahul vs Josh Hazlewood: KL Rahul was the star of the show when these two sides met at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in 2025. He has started the season slowly, scoring 111 runs in four matches, which included a brilliant 92 against the Gujarat Titans. Hazlewood will need to keep him quiet.
Dream11 Fantasy Prediction
Captain (C): Virat Kohli (228 runs in 5 matches at SR 158.33 – outstanding form).
Vice-Captain (VC): Rajat Patidar (leading six-hitter with 21 maximums this season).
Suggested Dream11 Team:
| Role | Player |
|---|---|
| WK | Jitesh Sharma / KL Rahul |
| BAT | Virat Kohli, Phil Salt, Devdutt Padikkal |
| ALL | Rajat Patidar, Axar Patel, Romario Shepherd |
| BOWL | Josh Hazlewood, Kuldeep Yadav, Bhuvneshwar Kumar |
Tips: Pick Virat Kohli as C given his dominant record vs DC at Chinnaswamy. Kuldeep Yadav is a differential pick who can fetch bonus points with wickets. Avoid Axar Patel as captain given his poor form with bat and ball this season.
Match Prediction
RCB also have a capable bowling unit under Australian quick Josh Hazlewood, who has found the perfect line and length to be effective at the Chinnaswamy. It will be a tough job for the Delhi Capitals to contain this dangerous RCB batting line-up which is currently firing on all cylinders.
Our Verdict: RCB to win. The defending champions are playing some of the best cricket in the tournament, are at home, and have far superior recent form. Delhi would need near-perfect performances from their openers and a disciplined bowling effort to pull off an upset.
Where to Watch
Fans can catch the action live on the Star Sports Network on TV and via the JioHotstar App for live streaming in India. Stay tuned to BattingFirst.com for live toss updates, confirmed playing XIs, and ball-by-ball commentary of RCB vs DC, Match 26, IPL 2026
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