IPL 2026: Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s strongest predicted XI against Chennai Super Kings

The Royal Challengers Bengaluru take on the Chennai Super Kings in a fresh episode of one of the IPL’s fiercest rivalries. The two sides will meet for the 36th time, at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, on April 5.

In their first game of the season, RCB beat the Sunrisers Hyderabad comprehensively, by six wickets, chasing down 202 with more than four overs to spare. The team performed on a flat Chinnaswamy wicket, with both bat and ball. 

They have continued with the same core that they won the title with, a unit which looks balanced and formidable. The team has made a few additions due to circumstances, but the majority remains the same.

Here is the best possible XI for the Royal Challengers Bengaluru

Top order: Virat Kohli, Phil Salt, Devdutt Padikkal

Virat Kohli and Phil Salt form a formidable opening pairing for the defending champions. While Salt failed to get going against SRH, Kohli’s innings was the backbone of the chase, as he scored an unbeaten 69, holding his end when runs flowed around him and then showing his array of shots as the game waned.

Devdutt Padikkal, whose place was under question with the arrival of Venkatesh Iyer, received the backing of the team, and repaid that faith with a brilliant 61 off just 28 balls, which took the game out from the SRH’s reach early on.