Bengaluru, March 12: Former Indian cricketer Abhinav Mukund believes that the reigning champions, Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), will face a tough challenge in their opening matches at the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 season. He described the initial games against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) as a significant test for the team.
Mukund noted that the conditions at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium might be difficult to gauge initially, especially since there has been no competitive cricket played there for nearly eight to nine months following the chaos during RCB’s victory parade after winning the championship last year.
Speaking on Jio Hotstar, Mukund said, “For RCB, this is almost uncharted territory as this stadium has not been their strongest venue. They need to adapt quickly. It is crucial for RCB to understand and assess the conditions faster than other teams, given that no cricket has been played at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium for the past 8-9 months.”
He emphasized that the defending champions will face strong opponents at their home ground, with SRH in the tournament opener on March 28 and CSK on April 4. Last year, RCB struggled with losses in their home matches, making these upcoming games particularly challenging. “I am sure they have already started preparing for this,” Mukund added.
Last season, RCB performed better away from home compared to their record at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, where they managed to win only two out of five home matches, losing three and having one match abandoned due to rain, highlighting their struggle to establish a stronghold at their own venue.
Overall, RCB has played a total of 96 IPL matches at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, securing 46 wins and suffering 47 losses, with four matches yielding no result.