Royal Challengers Bengaluru skipper Rajat Patidar won the toss and opted to field first against Mumbai Indians in their IPL 2026 contest at Raipur on Sunday. Suryakumar Yadav was named as the stand-in for Hardik Pandya, who missed a second straight appearance because of a back spasm. Mumbai Indians later said Hardik had not been cleared by the medical team to take the field. Both franchises kept faith with the same playing XI that they used in their most recent match, with RCB having beaten MI by 18 runs when they last met earlier this season.
Speaking at the toss, Suryakumar said the team felt confident about batting first. He pointed to the dimensions of the venue and the nature of the pitch—describing it as a black-soil wicket—suggesting that scoring could be on offer. He also stressed that posting runs would add pressure on the opposition. When asked whether there were any changes to the plan, Suryakumar replied that they were sticking with the same side. He added that what happened previously was now in the past, and the focus was on the present challenge ahead of a high-profile “Super Sunday” fixture in Raipur.
On the subject of bowling, Suryakumar said the group had consistently discussed their approach and that, in this IPL season, the format had been tough and unforgiving for bowlers. Still, he highlighted the nature of T20 cricket—where responses and comebacks matter—and suggested that bouncing back quickly was a sign of character. He concluded by saying the team would keep working to improve day by day as they prepare to play their part in delivering a strong contest for Raipur.
Patidar, meanwhile, showed no hesitation in bowling first. He said the surface looked solid and hard, and that RCB wanted to take wickets early before looking to chase successfully. He also referenced the conditions as something the team was ready for, adding that the stadium was new, the supporters would be loud, and the outfield was expected to be quick. Patidar reiterated that RCB were going with the same XI, noting that while they had suffered a couple of setbacks, it was crucial to stay in the moment and lean on strengths. He said the side would concentrate on its own process rather than obsess over other teams, and when asked about what needed improvement, he suggested it was less about one or two areas and more about executing well both in the powerplay and after it.
Teams
- Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Rajat Patidar (c), Virat Kohli, Jacob Bethell, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Tim David, Romario Shepherd, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Josh Hazlewood, Suyash Sharma, Rasikh Salam Dar.
- Mumbai Indians: Suryakumar Yadav (c), Rohit Sharma, Ryan Rickelton (wk), Naman Dhir, Tilak Varma, Will Jacks, Raj Bawa, Corbin Bosch, Deepak Chahar, Jasprit Bumrah, AM Ghazanfar.
