IPL 2026: RCB vs DC, Match 26 - Top player battles to watch out for

Royal Challengers Bengaluru host Delhi Capitals at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Match 26 of the 2026 Indian Premier League on April 18.

The defending champions have started their season in dominant fashion, with four wins in five matches, and are unbeaten at home in three games. They will look to carry the momentum forward with another win.

Delhi Capitals, on the other hand, started their campaign with two wins, but have seen their run derail a bit after two losses. returning to action after a six-day break, they will be hoping that the breather helps them put the poor results behind them, helping them get their season back on track with a win. The teams are filled with superstars who can take the game away from the opposition.

Here are the three most important player battles from Match 26:

3) Rajat Patidar vs Kuldeep Yadav 

Captain Rajat Patidar has been the defending champions’ best batter in the 2026 season, batting essentially in sixth gear. He has played five games, scoring 222 runs at a whopping strike rate of 213.46. He has executed his role of a middle-overs enforcer to perfection, coming in and taking on the bowlers from ball one. A feared spin-hitter, Patidar has struck at 197.1 against spin-bowling in 2026.

His matchup and potential threat comes in the form of Delhi’s Kuldeep Yadav. The left-arm wrist-spinner has not been at his best in the IPL in 2026, picking up just three wickets in four matches, at an economy of 9.85. But his quality as a decisive player is undeniable. The pair has met in just two innings, with Patidar managing 16 runs in 13 balls, and Kuldeep having dismissed the RCB skipper once.

2) KL Rahul vs Josh Hazlewood

KL Rahul was the star of the show when these two sides met at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in 2025. He has started the season slowly, scoring 111 runs in four matches, which included a brilliant 92 against the Gujarat Titans. As the Capitals’ marquee batter, he returns to familiar territories looking to kick on in IPL 2026.

The responsibility of stopping the hometown hero lies on RCB’s Aussie ace Josh Hazlewood. He looked at his dominant best against the Lucknow Super Giants, finishing with a spell of 1/20 as he bowled with control and kept the run-flow in check. He was RCB’s lead fast-bowler in 2025, and his return will bolster their chances. The matchup, though, favours the local boy, who has scored 85 runs off 51 balls in six innings, while being dismissed once. 

1) Virat Kohli vs Axar Patel

Virat Kohli once again finds himself at the top of the orange cap list. With 228 runs in five games, he has taken his game to a new level in 2026, playing with more intent, while also maintaining the awareness which saw him dominate the world. He has scored his runs at a strike rate of 158.33, the highest for him in the IPL so far.

With the two right-handers at the top, expect Delhi skipper Axar Patel to bowl early in the powerplay, potentially having the chance to stop Kohli early, before he can get going. The left-arm spinner has picked up just three wickets in the season, but has bowled tight at an economy of 7.86. The pair have met in 13 innings, where Kohli has scored 97 runs off 86 balls and has been dismissed once.