New Delhi: The 2026 season of the IPL kicks off today, sparking immense excitement among cricket fans and players alike. In the opening match of this season, Royal Challengers Bangalore will face off against Sunrisers Hyderabad. This match is expected to be a highly decisive encounter.
In a significant decision, the BCCI has announced that there will be no opening ceremony this year. This move serves as a mark of respect and remembrance for the 11 people who lost their lives in a stampede that occurred during the celebrations of RCB’s victory following the previous season.
Consequently, the IPL will commence without the usual fanfare—no drums, music, or dance performances. Meanwhile, a question lingers in everyone’s mind: will the weather at the Chinnaswamy Stadium play spoilsport during the match? Read the report below to find out what the weather conditions are expected to be during the contest in Bangalore.
Weather Forecast
A Western Disturbance has been active across various regions of the country in recent days. Consequently, fans are concerned that the match scheduled for Bangalore might fall victim to rain. However, the Meteorological Department has expressed a strong likelihood that the weather in Bangalore will remain completely clear this evening, March 28th.
While daytime temperatures are expected to hover between 32 and 34 degrees Celsius, a noticeable drop in temperature is anticipated during the evening hours. At the time of the match in the evening, the temperature in Bangalore is likely to range between 18 and 20 degrees Celsius. In short, the forecast suggests that the weather will remain entirely clear.
Who Will Captain RCB?
Rajat Patidar will once again take the helm as captain of the defending champions, Royal Challengers Bangalore. Sunrisers Hyderabad will be led by Ishan Kishan, who has been handed the captaincy in place of Pat Cummins, who is currently sidelined due to injury. It is hoped that Pat Cummins will be able to rejoin the Hyderabad squad in the upcoming matches.
Bangalore Stadium Pitch Report
Following their IPL title victory in 2025, the RCB team celebrated at the Bangalore Stadium; however, a stampede broke out outside the venue during the festivities, resulting in the tragic loss of 11 cricket fans’ lives. Since then, no matches of any kind have been played here. The implication is clear: there hasn’t been a single match at this venue for the past 10 months. Despite this, the pitch itself shows no signs of change.
This will prove highly beneficial for the batsmen. Consequently, there is a strong possibility of a high-scoring encounter. For the team winning the toss, it would be advisable to bowl first, as chasing down a target tends to be easier at this venue. It is expected that the team batting first could successfully set a target in the vicinity of 200 runs.
