Former India spinner R. Ashwin has predicted that since the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) have gotten the better of the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), he expects the Ishan Kishan-led side to dominate the IPL 2026 opening encounter that will be played on Saturday, March 28, in Bengaluru.

Since IPL 2022, RCB and SRH have won three games each. However, momentum is shifting in favor of the Orange Army, who have won two of the previous three meetings, including an IPL 2024 record-breaking triumph in Bengaluru, where they scored the highest total in league history.

Ashwin states that the recent success SRH has had against RCB will tilt the scales in their favor in the IPL 2024 finalists, and they will make a strong statement in the IPL opener.

"SRH has got the better of RCB in the recent past, and they will follow in this game also. I feel that this game will also follow that trend, for strange reasons, because RCB are without Hazlewood. In that game in Lucknow last year, as well, Hazlewood wasn’t there, if I am not wrong. For this game, I have a little prediction. RCB could have it tough, but RCB will find their rhythm," Ashwin said on his YouTube channel.

“I have a feeling that SRH will once again dominate this game because SRH, in the recent past, has gotten the better of RCB," Ashwin added.

The last time SRH faced RCB was in IPL 2025 at the Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow. SRH posted 231 runs with Ishan Kishan smashing 94*. RCB only managed 189 runs in return and lost the game by 42 runs.

Ashwin further stressed that with Josh Hazlewood not available for this encounter, RCB captain Rajat Patidar doesn’t have many options to choose from, while Bhuvneshwar Kumar leads the attack. RCB will also miss the services of Yash Dayal and Nuwan Thushara.

“Apart from Bhuvneshwar Kumar, RCB doesn’t have much strength to control in the end. In RCB, we always have to remember that death overs bleed. If wickets are in hand, then it isn’t only difficult to stop runs in the death overs; it’s impossible," Ashwin said.