Bengaluru

Star players including Virat Kohli, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Devdutt Padikkal have joined the Royal Challengers Bengaluru camp ahead of the Indian Premier League 2026.

Defending champions RCB will kick off their campaign against Sunrisers Hyderabad at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium. With their women’s team also reigning champions in the Women’s Premier League, RCB currently hold both major franchise titles in Indian cricket.

Kohli’s arrival created a buzz among fans, with the franchise teasing his entry on social media. The IPL’s all-time leading run-scorer, Kohli will be aiming to cross the historic 9,000-run mark this season, having already amassed 8,661 runs in 267 matches. A strong season could also take him close to 10,000 T20 runs for RCB across competitions.

Coming off a title-winning campaign last season—where RCB defeated Punjab Kings in the final—Kohli is expected to play with added freedom after ending his long wait for an IPL trophy.

Veteran pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar, dubbed the ‘Swing King’, also rejoined the squad. With 198 wickets in 190 matches, he is on the verge of becoming the first fast bowler to reach 200 IPL wickets.

Padikkal, who played a key role last season, returns after an impressive domestic run. He scored heavily across formats, including a standout 232 in the Ranji Trophy, and will be crucial in RCB’s batting lineup.

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RCB will be looking to continue their dominant run and defend their title successfully in IPL 2026.