In-form Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) will look to make the most of its return to home environs when it takes on Lucknow Super Giants at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium on Wednesday.
The clash will be the first of three consecutive IPL 2026 games in the Garden City over the next 10 days, and having already won its two fixtures here, RCB would want to continue in the same vein and maximise its opportunities.
Rajat Patidar & Co. will also have the added motivation of dishing out fine performances, for the defending champion’s Bengaluru leg in the league stage will end with these three matches.
Sunday’s 18-run win away at Mumbai Indians should augur well. The batting came good again, as RCB posted 240 – its fourth 200 plus total in as many matches.
Krunal Pandya then bowled four miserly overs for 26 runs and a wicket to keep a capable MI batting line-up under check.
The only concerns from that contest were Virat Kohli’s troublesome ankle and pacer Rasikh Salam pulling up thrice in a single over. But those fears were allayed during practice on Tuesday when Kohli batted and Rasikh bowled.
LSG has triumphed during its previous two visits here, but to even compete this time, its batting should fire. Rishabh Pant’s outfit has taken first strike twice this campaign, but made scores of just 141 and 164, and lost both matches.
Nicholas Pooran has had an underwhelming season, totalling just 41 runs. If he can summon the spirit which helped him score a mesmerising 19-ball 62 in LSG’s one-wicket win at the Chinnaswamy in 2023, it will be timely.
The LSG bowling has largely held up well, with veteran Mohammed Shami still in fine fettle. But it will face its toughest test yet against RCB’s marauding willow wielders at one of the best venues for batting.
Published on Apr 14, 2026