KOLKATA, APRIL 15, 2026: The defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), will take on the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in the 23rd match of IPL 2026 on April 15 at 7:30 PM at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru. However, RCB’s star player Virat Kohli seems to be absent for today’s match due to an injury during the last match against Mumbai Indians at Wankhede. On the other hand, there is positive news for LSG, as pacer Mayank Yadav is likely to return for today’s match after recovering from injury.
RCB vs LSG is a clash between two strong IPL teams this season, RCB having powerful batting line-ups. RCB has consistently posted scores above 200 in most of their matches so far, along with a strong bowling attack. After a dominant win against Mumbai Indians at Wankhede, RCB return to their home ground to host LSG. The title champions have continued their season with great momentum, winning 3 out of 4 matches and currently holding the 3rd position on the points table with 6 points. Their team looks well-balanced in both batting and bowling, with excellent captaincy under Rajat Patidar, who is also in outstanding form. He is currently 4th in the Orange Cap race with 195 runs at an impressive strike rate of 214.29. On the other side, LSG have had a slightly unstable season so far, winning 2 and losing 2 out of their 4 matches. They have not crossed the 200-run mark yet, with their highest score being 182 so far this season. However, they have an excellent bowling lineup, with Mohsin Khan maintaining one of the best economy rates at 4.75, and Mohammed Shami also performing well with an economy rate of 6.2. Despite this, LSG have struggled with batting consistency, especially in the middle order, losing wickets quickly during the middle overs. Mitchell Marsh and Nicholas Pooran have also been out of form, and they will need to improve significantly to secure a win.
During the match against Mumbai Indians on April 12, Kohli scored a steady 50 off 38 balls but stayed in the dugout during the second innings, wearing a jacket. Initially, there were rumors of fever and an eye infection, but it was later confirmed that he had an ankle injury. Fans were concerned about his availability for the match against LSG. However, in a video shared by LSG’s social media, Kohli was seen walking with his knee strapped while meeting Kane Williamson, who is part of LSG’s support staff, and also greeting skipper Rishabh Pant. In four matches this season, Kohli has scored 179 runs at an average of 59.66 and a strike rate of 162.72, including two fifties, with a highest score of 69. In the previous match, he scored 50 off 38 balls with five fours and a six. There is still a high chance that he might not miss the match despite the injury.
Meanwhile, there is major positive news for LSG, as pace sensation Mayank Yadav is likely to return after being sidelined due to injury. His comeback will strengthen the bowling attack significantly. Although there is no official confirmation yet, the franchise’s Global Director of Cricket, Tom Moody, said: “Mayank is ready to go. He didn’t come into our thinking early in the tournament because he was still a little underdone—not from a fitness point of view, but in terms of bowling workload and comfort. We feel he is now ready. He has worked exceptionally hard.”
RCB and LSG have played 6 matches in IPL history, with RCB winning 4 and LSG winning 2.
RCB Squad: Virat Kohli, Phil Salt, Rajat Patidar, Devdutt Padikkal, Jordan Cox, Jitesh Sharma, Krunal Pandya, Tim David, Romario Shepherd, Jacob Bethell, Venkatesh Iyer, Swapnil Singh, Satvik Deswal, Mangesh Yedave, Vicky Ostwal, Vihaan Malhotra, Kanish Chohan, Josh Hazlewood, Rasikh Dar, Suyash Sharma, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Yash Dayal, Jacob Duffy, Nuwan Thushara, Abhinandan Singh.
RCB Predicted XI: Phil Salt, Virat Kohli, Devdutt Padikkal, Rajat Patidar, Tim David, Jitesh Sharma, Romario Shepherd, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Rasikh Salam, Josh Hazlewood.
LSG Squad: Rishabh Pant, Aiden Markram, Himmat Singh, Matthew Breetzke, Mukul Choudhary, Akshat Raghuwanshi, Josh Inglis, Nicholas Pooran, Mitchell Marsh, Abdul Samad, Shahbaz Ahmed, Arshin Kulkarni, Wanindu Hasaranga, Ayush Badoni, Mohammed Shami, Avesh Khan, M. Siddharth, Digvesh Singh, Akash Singh, Prince Yadav, Arjun Tendulkar, Anrich Nortje, Naman Tiwari, Mayank Yadav, Mohsin Khan.
LSG Predicted XI: Aiden Markram, Mitchell Marsh, Rishabh Pant, Ayush Badoni, Nicholas Pooran, Abdul Samad, Mukul Choudhary, George Linde/Anrich Nortje, Mohammed Shami, Avesh Khan, Digvesh Singh Rathi.
The weather in Bengaluru is expected to be very favorable, with almost no chance of rain, ensuring a full and uninterrupted match. The temperature at the start of the game will be around 27–28°C and may drop to 23–26°C as the evening progresses. The skies will remain mostly clear, creating ideal conditions for cricket. Some humidity later in the night may result in dew, which could favor the team batting second. The pitch at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium is expected to be batting-friendly, as usual. It offers a flat surface with good bounce and pace, allowing batters to play freely. The short boundaries further support high scoring. Bowlers usually struggle here, with minimal help for both pacers and spinners. In the last match at this venue, RCB scored 250/3 while Chennai Super Kings managed 207 all out, highlighting the high-scoring nature of the pitch. Another total around or above 200 is expected. It will be interesting to see whether RCB will continue their great form or if LSG can bounce back after their defeat against Gujarat Titans in the last match.
