RCB vs SRH IPL 2026: IPL 2026 begins soon, with Royal Challengers Bengaluru facing Sunrisers Hyderabad at M Chinnaswamy Stadium. Rajat Patidar leads RCB, while Ishan Kishan is SRH's stand-in skipper.
RCB players will wear black armbands during the match against SRH to honor fans who died in the tragic stampede outside the stadium after last year's historic victory.
RCB stated, "Royal Challengers Bengaluru will pay tribute to the 11 RCB family members who lost their lives in the June 4 incident."
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"As a mark of respect, players will wear practice jerseys with the number 11 during the warm-up and black armbands during the match," the statement continued.
"As a lasting tribute, eleven seats at M Chinnaswamy Stadium will remain unoccupied, honoring the fans whose support is part of the RCB family," the statement concluded.
Eleven people died, and many were injured during the stampede outside the venue during the 2025 celebrations.
'Kohli is incredibly hungry.'
RCB coach Andy Flower says Virat Kohli is eager and in top form for their title defense.
Ex-India skipper Kohli, who retired from Tests and T20Is, now plays only ODIs for India.
'Virat is in a really good mental space,' Flower told reporters pre-match.
'He's comfortable, still hungry, and looks at his peak in training,' he added.
"It was very satisfying professionally for everyone, but also an emotional time for many reasons at the end of last season," he said.
"It's a new time, so we need to move on," he concluded.