Phil Salt To Return? RCB Strongest Playing XI vs MI, IPL 2026, Match 54

Royal Challengers Bengaluru - (Source: AP)

On Sunday, May 10, Royal Challengers Bengaluru will play their first match of IPL 2026 at new home venue in Raipur. The defending champions will lock horns against Mumbai Indians at the SVNS Stadium in Raipur.

RCB are fresh off a defeat to Lucknow Super Giants and fear bowing out of the top four in case of another defeat. The Rajat Patidar-led side are placed 3rd on the table with 12 points in 10 matches. MI, on the other hand, are fresh off a win against Lucknow Super Giants, a massive boost in their confidence.

RCB vs MI Preview

Mumbai Indians travelled to Raipur without Hardik Pandya and Suryakumar Yadav. Pandya is nursing a back spasm and joined the squad separately. Suryakumar Yadav welcomed fatherhood, and he too joined the team late, making himself available for selection against RCB.

For RCB, they are sweating hard on Phil Salt’s selection, who is actually in the UK for scans on his injured finger. They have a few tough calls to make, and it would be interesting to see the changes they make for the upcoming match against MI.

RCB Likely Playing XI vs MI- Match 54

Openers and Top Order (Virat Kohli, Jacob Bethell, Devdutt Padikkal)

There is pressure on RCB at the top because Jacob Bethell is struggling to get runs on the board. The southpaw has been presented with a lot of opportunities in this edition, but the England World Cup hero has just amassed 43 runs in 4 innings.

Also Read: Shivam Dube To Return? CSK Strongest XI vs LSG For IPL 2026, Match 53

Phil Salt is unlikely to return in time and join the camp. Therefore, he won’t be available for selection. RCB have a choice between Jacob Bethell and Jordan Cox. However, it seems that the defending champions will continue to back the youngster.

Rest, Virat Kohli will open the innings, and Devdutt Padikkal will bat at No.3. The Karnataka-based cricketer has scored 316 runs in 9 innings.

Middle Order and All Rounders (Rajat Patidar, Krunal Pandya, Tim David, Jitesh Sharma)

Rajat Patidar played a brilliant fifty-plus knock against LSG, which nearly sealed the deal for RCB at Ekana. Similarly, Krunal Pandya and Tim David are also on song with the bat.

The only weak link in the middle-order is Romario Shepherd. The Caribbean star is yet to get going and has been RCB’s biggest problem with the ball. Notably, Shepherd has been mostly used as a 6th bowler, and it hasn’t paid off well for the defending champions. Despite that, the 31-year-old will retain his place in the team.

Jitesh Sharma is another talking point in the team as the keeper-batter has failed to get going as well. He has scored just 64 runs in 8 innings.

Bowlers (Rasikh Dar, Romario Shepherd, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Josh Hazlewood)

In the bowling too, RCB won’t make any changes to their playing XI. Rasikh Dar, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Josh Hazlewood, and Suyash Sharma will continue to be part of the playing XI.

The bowlers have been on song and taking wickets at regular intervals. Notably, Bhuvneshwar Kumar is the leading wicket-taker with 17 wickets in IPL 2026.

RCB Predicted Playing XI vs MI- Match 54, IPL 2026

Virat Kohli
Jacob Bethell
Devdutt Padikkal
Rajat Patidar (C)
Krunal Pandya
Tim David
Jitesh Sharma (WK)
Rasikh Dar
Romario Shepherd
Bhuvneshwar Kumar
Josh Hazlewood