Royal Challengers Bengaluru will host Lucknow Super Giants in Match 23 of IPL 2026 at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium on Wednesday, with both teams aiming to strengthen their positions early in the season.
RCB, the defending champions, come into the contest with momentum after a dominant win over Mumbai Indians. Their batting unit has looked in strong touch, with Virat Kohli expected to return to the lineup after a minor ankle concern, adding further stability at the top alongside an in-form Phil Salt, while the middle order provides depth and power.
In contrast, LSG are looking to bounce back after a defeat to Gujarat Titans. Led by Rishabh Pant, the side has shown flashes of promise but will need greater consistency, particularly with the bat, to challenge a confident RCB outfit on their home turf.
With the Chinnaswamy Stadium known for high-scoring encounters and dew likely to influence the second innings, the match shapes up as a contest of momentum versus resilience, with RCB aiming to climb to the top of the table, while LSG seek to revive their campaign.
IPL 2026 RCB vs LSG: Match Details
What time will the RCB vs LSG IPL 2026 match start?
The match between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Lucknow Super Giants will begin at 7:30 PM IST.
What time will the toss take place?
The toss is scheduled for 7:00 PM IST, with teams likely to prefer chasing due to expected dew conditions.
Where is the RCB vs LSG match being played?
The match will be held at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.
Where can you watch the RCB vs LSG IPL 2026 match live on TV?
The match will be broadcast live on the Star Sports Network in India.
Where can you livestream the RCB vs LSG match?
Fans can stream the match live on the JioHotstar app and website.
RCB vs LSG IPL 2026: Head-to-Head Record
Matches: 6
RCB wins: 4
LSG wins: 2
RCB have had the upper hand in this fixture overall, including a comfortable win in their last meeting in 2025. However, LSG have enjoyed success at the Chinnaswamy, winning both their previous encounters at the venue.
RCB vs LSG IPL 2026: Predicted Playing XIs
Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB):
Phil Salt (wk), Virat Kohli, Devdutt Padikkal, Rajat Patidar (c), Jitesh Sharma, Tim David, Romario Shepherd, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Josh Hazlewood / Jacob Duffy, Suyash Sharma
Impact Player: Venkatesh Iyer / Rasikh Salam Dar
Lucknow Super Giants (LSG):
Mitchell Marsh, Aiden Markram, Rishabh Pant (c & wk), Ayush Badoni, Matthew Breetzke, Abdul Samad, Shahbaz Ahamad, Mohammed Shami, Avesh Khan / Mayank Yadav, Digvesh Singh, Prince Yadav
Impact Player: M. Siddharth / Arshin Kulkarni
RCB vs LSG IPL 2026: Pitch & Conditions
The Chinnaswamy surface is expected to be batting-friendly, with short boundaries and a quick outfield favouring stroke play. A total in the range of 190–210 could be competitive, although defending scores remains challenging at this venue.
Fast bowlers may get some assistance early on, but conditions typically ease out for batting. Dew is expected to play a significant role in the second innings, making chasing the preferred option.
Weather conditions are expected to be clear, with temperatures dropping from around 31°C at the start to the high 20s later in the evening.
Team News & Key Updates
RCB:
Virat Kohli is likely to play despite a minor ankle concern.
Josh Hazlewood remains a doubt after missing the final training session.
LSG:
Mayank Yadav is fit and could return to bolster the pace attack.
Nicholas Pooran could be rotated out, with Matthew Breetzke in contention.
Players to Watch
Virat Kohli (RCB): Key figure at the top, especially given his recent form and experience.
Phil Salt (RCB): Coming off an explosive knock and capable of taking the game away in the powerplay.
Rishabh Pant (LSG): Captain and wicketkeeper who can change the game with his aggressive approach.
Mayank Yadav (LSG): If he returns, his pace could be a major factor on a batting-friendly pitch.
RCB vs LSG IPL 2026: Squads
Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Rajat Patidar (c), Virat Kohli, Tim David, Jacob Bethell, Romario Shepherd, Josh Hazlewood, Nuwan Thushara, Devdutt Padikkal, Jitesh Sharma, Krunal Pandya, Rasikh Dar, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jordan Cox, Suyash Sharma, Venkatesh Iyer, Swapnil Singh, Jacob Duffy, Kanishk Chouhan, Abhinandan Singh, Mangesh Yadav, Phil Salt, Satvik Deswal, Vicky Ostwal, Vihaan Malhotra
Lucknow Super Giants: Rishabh Pant (c), Aiden Markram, Himmat Singh, Matthew Breetzke, Mukul Choudhary, Akshat Raghuwanshi, Josh Inglis, Mitchell Marsh, Abdul Samad, Shahbaz Ahamad, Arshin Kulkarni, Wanindu Hasaranga, Ayush Badoni, Mohammed Shami, Avesh Khan, M. Siddharth, Digvesh Singh, Akash Singh, Prince Yadav, Arjun Tendulkar, Anrich Nortje, Naman Tiwari, Mayank Yadav, Mohsin Khan