The 2026 Indian Premier League season is almost here. The Royal Challengers Bengaluru management has put together a really tough squad. It mixes old pros with some smart new buys. They retained their core leadership group. They also bolstered the middle order with the high-profile purchase of Venkatesh Iyer. Now, the franchise looks ready to field a team that can win in both home and away conditions.
Top Order
The evergreen Virat Kohli opens the batting. He remains the heart of the batting. He provides the stability needed for others to bat with freedom around him. The explosive English wicketkeeper-batter Phil Salt will likely partner him.
Salt’s aggressive approach in the powerplay allows the team to get off to a flyer against the new ball. Devdutt Padikkal bats at number three. He offers a left-handed option. He can anchor the innings or accelerate when necessary. This ensures the top order can keep the scoreboard ticking throughout the initial overs.
Middle Order
Rajat Patidar leads the side. He takes the number four position. He brings his proven ability to take down the spinners. Patidar also controls the middle overs with authority. The newly acquired Venkatesh Iyer brings something extra at the number five spot.
He has the capacity to strike long balls. He also provides a handy medium pace. This solves previous balance issues. The designated finisher, Tim David, follows him. His role focuses solely on capitalising on the death overs. The Aussie star helps push the score to a commanding figure.
All-Rounders and Bowlers
Krunal Pandya provides depth at number seven. He serves as the primary spin-bowling all-rounder. He offers tight overs in the middle phase. Krunal also adds valuable runs down the order. The bowling attack features the Caribbean flair of Romario Shepherd.
He adds batting depth and pace variations. He plays alongside the seasoned swing mastery of Bhuvneshwar Kumar. The Australian giant Josh Hazlewood leads the pace battery. He brings incredible control and bounce. Yash Dayal completes the unit, and he holds his nerve well in the final overs.
The Impact Player Strategy
The management will likely utilise Suyash Sharma as the Impact Player. This gives them more options to play with. The captain can introduce the mystery spinner in the second innings to defend a total. He can replace a top-order batter like Devdutt Padikkal. This adds a lethal wicket-taking option without compromising batting depth.
Predicted XI for IPL 2026:
1. Virat Kohli
2. Phil Salt (wk) ✈️
3. Devdutt Padikkal
4. Rajat Patidar (c)
5. Venkatesh Iyer
6. Tim David ✈️
7. Krunal Pandya
8. Romario Shepherd ✈️
9. Bhuvneshwar Kumar
10. Josh Hazlewood ✈️
11. Yash Dayal
Impact Player: Suyash Sharma
