Bengaluru, March 28: The 19th season of the Indian Premier League (IPL 2026) kicks off this Saturday, with the opening match set to take place between the reigning champions, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium. As RCB’s home ground, the team is considered the favorite for this inaugural match.
Former Indian cricketer Mohammad Kaif has praised RCB and its former captain, the legendary batsman Virat Kohli, ahead of the match. Kaif expressed his admiration on the social media platform X, stating, “It took RCB and Virat Kohli 18 years to earn the pride of being called ‘defending champions’. A special highlight of this season will be to see how eager Virat, who is currently in tremendous form, is for more success. RCB and Virat—what a remarkable story. They never gave up and kept trying. Life is a marathon—be patient, keep running, and you will surely reach your goals.”
RCB has been one of the most popular teams in the IPL since its inception, yet it had not secured a title in the first 17 seasons. In IPL 2025 (the 18th season), RCB entered under the leadership of new captain Rajat Patidar, showcasing excellent performance and overcoming the failures of the previous 17 seasons by defeating Punjab Kings in the final to claim their first title.
Virat Kohli played a crucial role in RCB’s title victory, scoring 657 runs in 15 matches during the last season (IPL 2025). Following his retirements from T20 and Test formats, Kohli has been in exceptional form in the ODI format, and his impact is expected to be significant in IPL 2026. If RCB manages to defend its title or come close, Kohli’s contribution will undoubtedly be pivotal.
Bhupendra Singh Chundawat is a seasoned technology journalist with over 22 years of experience in the media industry. He specializes in covering the global technology landscape, with a deep focus on manufacturing trends and the geopolitical impact on tech companies. Currently serving as the Editor at Udaipur Kiran, his insights are shaped by decades of hands-on reporting and editorial leadership in the fast-evolving world of technology.