The upcoming edition of the <a href="https://www.mid-day.com/sports/cricket/article/ipl-2026-lakshmipathy-balaji-wants-kolkata-knight-riders-captain-ajinkya-rahane-to-bat-in-top-order-23621444" rel="nofollow">Indian Premier League</a> (IPL) is all set to kick off from March 28. So far, the schedule of only first 20 matches has been released due to state elections.
Ahead of the cash-rich league, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) players Virat Kohli, Devdutt Padikkal, and Bhuvneshwar Kumar have joined the team.
The first match of the tournament is scheduled to be played between the defending champions, <a href="https://www.mid-day.com/sports/cricket/article/rcb-ipl-2026-schedule-fixtures-dates-timing-and-venue-23620495" rel="nofollow">RCB</a> and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.
On Kohli's arrival, the Bengaluru-based franchise shared a post on its official social media handle, which read as, "You don't have to see him... to know he's coming! Check the calendar. There will be signs... #PlayBold RCB #IPL2026".
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
You don&rsquo;t have to see him&hellip; to know he&rsquo;s coming! Check the calendar. There will be signs&hellip; ✨❤️<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PlayBold?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc-Etfw">#PlayBold</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/&#37&#37&#37&#37&#37&#37&#37&#37ź&#37&#37&#37?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc-Etfw">#ನಮ್ಮRCB</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IPL2026?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc-Etfw">#IPL2026</a> <a href="https://t.co/qv8tA5ZCrA">pic.twitter.com/qv8tA5ZCrA</a>
&mdash; Royal Challengers Bengaluru (@RCBTweets) <a href="https://twitter.com/RCBTweets/status/2034110257010798827?ref_src=twsrc-Etfw">March 18, 2026</a></blockquote>

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For Bhuvneshwar, the team shared a post with a caption, "He brings the calm, but his impact is loud! Bhuvi is HOME, and the veteran is back to shoulder responsibilities again. Show our Swing King some love, 12th Man Army".
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
?? ?????? ??? ????, ??? ??? ?????? ?? ????! ? Bhuvi is HOME and the veteran is back to shoulder responsibilities again. ? Show our Swing King some love, 12th Man Army. ❤️✨ This is Emmvee presents RCB Shorts.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PlayBold?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc-Etfw">#PlayBold</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/&#37&#37&#37&#37&#37&#37&#37&#37ź&#37&#37&#37?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc-Etfw">#ನಮ್ಮRCB</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IPL2026?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc-Etfw">#IPL2026</a> <a href="https://t.co/3Sb43fkS8q">pic.twitter.com/3Sb43fkS8q</a>
&mdash; Royal Challengers Bengaluru (@RCBTweets) <a href="https://twitter.com/RCBTweets/status/2034096117227651135?ref_src=twsrc-Etfw">March 18, 2026</a></blockquote>

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Paddikal, who played a crucial role at number three last season, also joined the team, looking all set and determined to "control the game".
"Back to #PlayBold. Back to control the game. Debuted in 2020. Still ours in 2026. Bengaluru's very own, StarBoy, Devdutt Padikkal is all set for #IPL2026!," posted RCB on X.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
???? ?? <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/&#37Ż໕&#37&#37Ż໕&#37&#37Ż໕&#37&#37Ż໖໊&#37Ż໕໓&#37Ż໕&#37&#37Ż໕&#37&#37Ż໕&#37?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc-Etfw">#????????</a>. ???? ?? ??????? ??? ????. ?&zwj;??❤️&zwj;? Debuted in 2020. Still ours in 2026. ? Bengaluru&rsquo;s very own, ನಮ್ಮ StarBoy, Devdutt Padikkal is all set for <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IPL2026?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc-Etfw">#IPL2026</a>! ?? <a href="https://t.co/pwP8oGBofD">pic.twitter.com/pwP8oGBofD</a>
&mdash; Royal Challengers Bengaluru (@RCBTweets) <a href="https://twitter.com/RCBTweets/status/2034139951399637235?ref_src=twsrc-Etfw">March 18, 2026</a></blockquote>

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<h2>IPL 2026, Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Full Squad</h2>
Virat Kohli, Josh Hazlewood, Swapnil Singh, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jacob Duffy, Krunal Pandya, Jitesh Sharma (WK), Venkatesh Iyer, Phil Salt (WK), Rajat Patidar (C), Nuwan Thushara, Romario Shepherd, Tim David, Devdutt Padikkal, Yash Dayal, Rasikh Salam, Jordan Cox, Jacob Bethell, Vicky Ostwal, Mangesh Yadav, Suyash Sharma, Vihaan Malhotra, Abhinandan Singh, Kanishk Chouhan, Satvik Deswal.
(With ANI Inputs)

IPL 2026: The first match of the marquee tournament is scheduled to be played between the defending champions, RCB and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in Bengaluru

IPL 2026: Virat Kohli, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Padikkal join Royal Challengers Bengaluru`s camp ahead of tournament

IPL 2026: Ishan Kishan to lead Sunrisers Hyderabad as Pat Cummins set to miss a few matches

The first match of the tournament is scheduled to be played between the defending champions, RCB and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru

Virat Kohli, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Padikkal join Royal Challengers Bengaluru's camp

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