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Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) take on Delhi Capitals (DC) in Match 26 of IPL 2026 at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium this Saturday, 18th April 2026. RCB are leading the season at the top of the points table, while DC are looking to bounce back stronger and end their losing streak. In our RCB vs DC today match prediction, we are backing DC to win this match. Read below for expert analysis on the RCB vs DC prediction, with playing 11, pitch report, toss factors, and winning percentage.
Today’s Match Winning Percentage
Series: Indian Premier League 2026
Teams: Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Delhi Capitals
Date: 18th April 2026
Time: 3:30 PM LOCAL & IST, 10:00 AM GMT, 3:00 AM PT, 6:00 AM ET
Venue: M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru
Broadcast: Star Sports 1 HD / Star Sports 3
Streaming: JioHotstar
Royal Challengers Bengaluru Preview and Performance
The Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) are currently performing at an elite level, leading the points table at first with 4 wins from 5 matches, 8 points and a net run rate of 1.503.
The defending champions have maintained dominance in IPL 2026, started this season with an opening match victory against SRH, RCB won by 6 wickets chased down the high score easily in 15.4 overs.
In match 11 won by 43 runs against CSK, batting first RCB posted a season-high total of 250/3 in 20 overs.
They lost one match in this season so far against RR by 6 wickets while batting RCB posted 201/8 in 20 overs, but RR chased successfully in this match 16.
Then they came back stronger in the match 20th against MI won by 18 runs victory, where Phil Salt started his explosive opening batting with scoring 78 runs in 36 balls was awarded the Player of the Match while RCB posted 240/4 in 20 overs later restricted MI to 222/5 in 20 overs.
This was not the end of their winning run, again in the recent previous match 23rd against LSG won by 5 wickets while skipper after winning the toss elected to bowl first and restricted LSG to 146/10 in 20 overs. The RCB key bowler Josh Hazlewood is back in the team and made his debut match in the season and was awarded Player of the Match for his excellent bowling he bowled 13 maiden balls in the match and took one crucial wicket.
Overall the RCB are doing fantastic this season leading this season as top contender, Captain Rajat Patidar leading the team in front with well balanced with both bat and ball and even field. Great news for RCB is that Josh Hazlewood bowler is back in the squad and bowling has strengthened more by adding him.
In batting, the openers are doing well with starting good in the power play especially key batter Virat Kohli leading runs in the IPL 2026 holding orange cap with 228 runs in 5 matches includes two fifties with a strike rate of 158.33 along with Skipper Rajat Patidar is playing fantastic with bat and and his outstanding captaincy scored 222 runs in 5 matches with best strike rate of 213.46 also including two half centuries.
In the bowling line-up Bhuvneshwar Kumar is leading the pace with 7 wickets in 5 matches, an average of 24.85 along with Josh Hazlewood built bowling pace stronger and in the medium pacer Rasikh Dar has recorded in the previous best bowling figure for an uncapped Indian for RCB with 4/24 against LSG he played two matches and took 5 wickets in this season so far.
Krunal Pandya and Suyash Sharma are doing good in spinning.
In the allrounder, Tim David made the team stronger with excellent with both bat and ball so he scored 147 in 5 matches with strike rate of 216.17 and he plays a crucial role in the middle order in the end to finish the death overs and finishing the games and now RCB will look stronger to keep their winning streak and keep their first spot in this IPL 2026.
Also Read: GT vs KKR Today Match Prediction, Betting Tips and Who Will Win? | Match 25, IPL 2026
Delhi Capitals Preview and Performance
The Delhi Capitals (DC) have had the kind of start that gives fans hope but also a few sleepless nights. Two wins, two losses from four matches, sitting fifth on the table with 4 points and a net run rate of 0.322. Not a disaster, but not convincing either — and the manner of those two defeats stings more than the results.
Under Axar Patel, who takes on the captaincy role this season, DC looked sharp in their opening two games. They chased down 141 against Lucknow Super Giants in match 5 with 17 balls to spare — easy, almost clinical. Then came match 8 against Mumbai Indians, another chase, another six-wicket win, reaching 164/4 in 18.1 overs. At that point DC looked like a side finding their rhythm nicely.
Then it all got complicated. Match 14 against Gujarat Titans was the one that hurt. DC needed 210 to win and finished on 209/8. One run. One. That kind of loss can rattle a dressing room if not handled well. They had no time to recover before heading to Chepauk for match 18 against CSK, where chasing 213 on that surface proved too much — DC were restricted to 189, losing by 23 runs.
Back-to-back defeats, both while chasing. There is a pattern there that DC’s think tank will need to address quickly.
The bright spots, though, are real. Sameer Rizvi has been the find of the season for DC — 166 runs at an average of 55.33 with a high score of 90. He plays with a freedom and confidence that is rare in young batters stepping up at this level. KL Rahul has done what Rahul does — 111 runs, best of 92, giving the top order a solid base to build from. Tristan Stubbs in the middle order has been useful too, 109 runs at an average of 54.5, though DC will want more from him when it matters most in those chase situations.
With Mitchell Starc unavailable, Lungi Ngidi has stepped up to lead the pace attack and picked up 5 wickets so far. Axar Patel has been steady with the ball, keeping things tight at an economy rate of 7.86, which is exactly what you need from your captain when the pressure is on.
Next up is arguably their toughest test yet — an away trip to face table-toppers RCB on April 18. RCB are in the form of their lives right now and DC come into this one on the back of two straight losses. They need to stop the slide and stop it fast. How Axar Patel sets up his team for that challenge will tell us a lot about what this DC side is really made of.
Today’s Playing XI Prediction — RCB vs DC, Match 26, IPL 2026
Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB):
Philip Salt, Devdutt Padikkal, Rajat Patidar (c), Jitesh Sharma (wk), Tim David, Romario Shepherd, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Josh Hazlewood, Suyash Sharma, Rasikh Salam DarDelhi Capitals (DC):
Pathum Nissanka, KL Rahul (wk), Sameer Rizvi, Axar Patel (c), David Miller, Tristan Stubbs, Auqib Nabi Dar, Lungi Ngidi, Kuldeep Yadav, T Natarajan, Mukesh Kumar
Key Players to Watch — RCB vs DC, Match 26, IPL 2026
Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB)
- Virat Kohli: Currently wearing the Orange Cap with 228 runs. He is the key opener of the RCB batting lineup and thrives at the Chinnaswamy.
- Rajat Patidar: The RCB captain is in the form of his life. With 222 runs and a strike rate over 200, he is the most dangerous middle-order batter in the league right now.
- Josh Hazlewood: In a high-scoring stadium, Hazlewood came back in the squad in the previous match and ability to bowl hard lengths makes him their most economical weapon (1/20 in the last game).
- Rasikh Salam Dar: The young Indian pacer is coming off a brilliant 4/24 spell. His confidence is sky-high, making him a major threat to DC’s top order.
Delhi Capitals (DC)
- Sameer Rizvi: With 166 runs at a 50+ average, Rizvi has become DC’s most reliable run-getter this season. Watch for his fearless hitting against spin.
- Lungi Ngidi: With Mitchell Starc unavailable, the pressure is on Ngidi to lead the pace attack. He has already picked up 5 wickets this season and will look to exploit any early swing.
- Axar Patel: Leading from the front, Axar’s 4 overs of tight spin (7.86 economy) will be crucial in slowing down Patidar and Kohli during the middle overs.
- KL Rahul: Returning to his home ground in Bengaluru, Rahul has a point to prove. His experience at this venue makes him the most vital wicket for RCB bowlers.
RCB vs DC Weather Report Bengaluru | April 18
- Temperature: 33 to 35°C
- Humidity: 20%
- Rain: 0% Chance of Rain
- Wind: Northwest at 7 to 11 KPH
RCB vs DC Match 26 Pitch Report — M.Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru
The M. Chinnaswamy Stadium pitch is traditionally flat and hard, allowing the ball to come onto the bat beautifully — expect a high scoring game with short boundaries and a fast outfield.
In IPL 2026, six matches have been played here so far and the captain winning the toss will prefer to bowl first, with a 70%-win record backing that call. The most recent game at this ground saw RCB restrict LSG to 146 before chasing it down in just 15.1 overs, with the pitch showing slight dryness that offered some assistance to the pacers.
RCB vs DC Toss Prediction — Match 26, IPL 2026
Today’s IPL toss prediction for Match 26 leans towards Delhi Capitals winning the toss. Despite the Chinnaswamy pitch report favouring bowling first, DC are expected to buck the trend and elect to bat first. Should RCB win the toss instead, they too are likely to opt for batting first in this high-stakes encounter.
Toss Prediction: Toss winner will bat first. We back DC to win the toss.
Today’s Betting Insights — RCB vs DC IPL 2026
- Who will win the toss Today: DC to win the toss and elect to bat first.
- Top Batter to Watch:
- Top Bowler to Watch:
- Free Betting Tip: Delhi capitals are favourite to win this 26th match IPL 2026.
Looking for more betting tips for IPL 2026? Check our IPL Betting Tips
RCB vs DC Today Match Prediction — Who Will Win Match 26, IPL 2026?
Our IPL today match prediction for Match 26 favours Delhi Capitals to pull off an upset against table-toppers RCB. KL Rahul knows the Chinnaswamy ground inside out and is expected to use that home ground familiarity to his advantage with the bat. If DC’s top order fires early, they have the batting depth to chase down or post a challenging total against even the best side in the tournament.
Prediction: DC to win Match 26, IPL 2026.
