Explained: Why RCB players will wear black armbands against SRH in IPL 2026 opener

NEW DELHI: The IPL 2026 is conscionable moments away, with the opening lucifer acceptable to beryllium played betwixt defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Sunrisers Hyderabad astatine the M Chinnaswamy Stadium successful Bengaluru.

RCB volition beryllium led by Rajat Patidar, portion Ishan Kishan volition skipper SRH.RCB volition besides deterioration achromatic armbands during their lucifer against SRH to wage tribute to fans who tragically mislaid their lives successful the stampede extracurricular the venue pursuing the team’s historical rubric triumph past year.

A connection from RCB said, "Royal Challengers Bengaluru volition wage tribute to the eleven members of the RCB household who tragically mislaid their lives successful the unfortunate incidental connected June 4."

"As a people of respect, players volition deterioration signifier jerseys bearing the fig 11 during the warm-up, followed by achromatic armbands during the match.""In a lasting motion of remembrance, eleven seats astatine the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium volition stay unoccupied, serving arsenic a imperishable tribute to the fans whose unwavering enactment volition ever beryllium a portion of the RCB family," the connection concluded.Eleven radical died and respective were injured successful the stampede extracurricular the stadium during the triumph celebrations past year.

'Kohli incredibly hungry'Virat Kohli is bare and astatine the "peak of his powers", with his IPL squad RCB acceptable to statesman their rubric defence, manager Andy Flower said.Former skipper Kohli, who has retired from Tests and T20 internationals, present represents India lone successful the 50-over format."Virat is successful a truly bully abstraction mentally," Flower told reporters."He's precise comfy with himself but inactive incredibly hungry, and watching him onslaught the shot successful training, helium looks astatine the highest of his powers.""It was precise satisfying professionally for everyone, of course, but a truly affectional clip for each sorts of reasons astatine the extremity of past season," Flower told reporters."It's different time, truthful it's clip to determination connected from that."