Will Venkatesh Iyer Replace Devdutt Padikkal? Predicted Royal Challengers Bengaluru XI vs Mumbai Indians

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) will look to bounce back after a heavy loss to RR in their last match. The upcoming match becomes difficult for RCB because they face the formidable Mumbai Indians team on Sunday during the second match of the double-header. RCB remain among the top teams in the IPL 2026 points table after they defeated both CSK and SRH with convincing victories.

The RCB playing XI will remain mostly unchanged because the team plans to continue using its current lineup. The team maintains their current winning lineup because they have achieved successful results during the past two seasons which they prefer to change too frequently. The team will make one minor adjustment before facing MI.

Predicted RCB playing XI vs RR:

Virat Kohli, Phil Salt✈️, Venkatesh Iyer, Rajat Patidar (c), Tim David✈️, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Romario Shepherd✈️, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Josh Hazlewood✈️, Abhinandan Singh

Impact Subs:  Suyash Sharma, Devdutt Padikkal, Rasikh Salam Dar, Kanishk Chouhan, Jacob Bethell✈️

The opening duo of Virat Kohli and Phil Salt will remain unchanged, but RCB may consider promoting Venkatesh Iyer to number three instead of Devdutt Padikkal for this game. The Rs 7 crore signing impressed in the last match against RR, scoring 29 runs as an impact player. The left-handed batter has established a successful track record against Mumbai Indians, as he has accumulated 365 runs through seven matches while maintaining a batting average of 60.83 and a strike rate of 160.08.

In his eight matches against Miami Indians, Padikkal has accumulated 189 runs while achieving a strike rate of 136.95 and an average of 23.62. Iyer has a better track record against Mumbai Indians, so RCB will probably select him to bat at number three. The statement does not indicate that Padikkal will receive no playing time. He could serve as an impact player, which RCB previously used with Iyer to obtain fast runs during necessary situations.

Josh Hazlewood did not succeed in his return to RCB because he allowed 44 runs during his 4 overs while taking 2 wickets. The team depends on his performance to create their successful match against MI at Wankhede Stadium. The Australian fast bowler was RCB’s top wicket-taker in IPL 2025, picking 22 wickets in 12 matches. In this location, Hazlewood has taken 9 wickets after participating in 5 matches, where his best performance resulted in 3/28 and his bowling average reached 17. He has played 2 matches against MI in Mumbai, where he achieved the same number of wickets.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar needs support from Abhinandan Singh because Yash Dayal is not available to play. The young pacer will feel the pressure, especially after conceding 54 runs in the last match. Krunal Pandya will also play an important role with the ball, given his experience at the venue and against this opposition.

RCB squad for IPL 2026:

Virat Kohli, Philip Salt, Devdutt Padikkal, Rajat Patidar(c), Jitesh Sharma(w), Tim David, Romario Shepherd, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Abhinandan Singh, Jacob Duffy, Suyash Sharma, Jacob Bethell, Rasikh Salam Dar, Kanishk Chouhan, Venkatesh Iyer, Josh Hazlewood, Mangesh Yadav, Swapnil Singh, Jordan Cox, Vicky Ostwal, Vihaan Malhotra, Satvik Deswal