RCB vs DC, IPL 2026 Match 26: Axar Patel Won The Toss, Pitch, Key Battles, and Playing XI

By
Rishabh Satija
Rishabh Satija is a sports writer and analyst known for his detailed cricket coverage and match analysis. He closely follows international and franchise tournaments, delivering tactical...
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RCB vs DC will be played in Match 26 of IPL 2026 on April 18 at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, starting at 3:30 PM IST. Royal Challengers Bengaluru are the defending champions and currently lead the points table with strong form. 

Delhi Capitals have lost their last few matches and are under pressure. This game is important for DC to stay in the playoff race, while RCB will try to maintain their top position.

RCB vs DC Pitch Report: Chinnaswamy Stadium Insights

RCB vs DC will be played on a batting-friendly pitch at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium. The average first-innings score is around 185 runs, indicating that high-scoring matches are common. 

The boundary size is about 65 meters, which helps batsmen hit more fours and sixes. The weather is expected to be warm with very low chances of rain. Fast bowlers may get slight help early, but batting becomes easier later, so teams often prefer chasing here.

RCB vs DC: Toss Update 

In the RCB vs DC match, both captains looked confident. Axar Patel, leading the Delhi Capitals, won the toss and chose to bowl first, as the pitch looks hard and suitable for chasing. On the other side, Rajat Patidar, captaining Royal Challengers Bengaluru, also preferred to bat first, so both the captains got what they wanted to do today. RCB is going with the same squad.

RCB vs DC: Playing XI of Both Sides 

Playing XI of RCB 

  • Rajat Patidar (Captain)
  • Virat Kohli
  • Phil Salt (Wicketkeeper)
  • Devdutt Padikkal
  • Jitesh Sharma (Wicketkeeper)
  • Tim David
  • Romario Shepherd
  • Krunal Pandya
  • Bhuvneshwar Kumar
  • Suyash Sharma
  • Josh Hazlewood

Substitutes:

  • Rasikh Dar
  • Jordan Cox
  • Mangesh Yadav
  • Vicky Ostwal
  • Venkat Iyer

Playing XI of DC 

  • Axar Patel (Captain)
  • KL Rahul (Wicketkeeper)
  • Pathum Nissanka
  • Sameer Rizvi
  • David Miller
  • Tristan Stubbs (Wicketkeeper)
  • Aqib Nabi
  • Lungi Ngidi
  • Kuldeep Yadav
  • T Natarajan
  • Mukesh Kumar

Substitutes:

  • Vipraj Nigam
  • Ashutosh Sharma
  • Karun Nair
  • Dushmantha Chameera
  • Nitish Rana

RCB vs DC Stubbs vs Bhuvneshwar Key Match Battle

RCB vs DC also features an important player battle between Tristan Stubbs and Bhuvneshwar Kumar. In 4 meetings, Stubbs has scored only 18 runs, showing how well Bhuvneshwar has controlled him. 

The experienced bowler has taken his wicket once and kept him under pressure with swing and accuracy. This gives Bhuvneshwar a clear advantage, especially in powerplay and death overs, where tight bowling can swing the match.

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Rishabh Satija is a sports writer and analyst known for his detailed cricket coverage and match analysis. He closely follows international and franchise tournaments, delivering tactical insights, match previews, and player-focused stories. Alongside cricket, he also covers chess, eSports, and other major sporting events, offering a broader sports perspective. With a strong understanding of the game, Rishabh focuses on accurate reporting, sharp analysis, and engaging storytelling from some of the biggest sporting stages worldwide.