IPL 2026: Jitesh Sharma leads RCB as Patidar sits out vs PBKS in Dharamsala
Synopsis
Rajat Patidar's absence hands Jitesh Sharma an unexpected captaincy debut for RCB in a playoff-defining clash at Dharamsala — while Shreyas Iyer quietly reaches his 100th game as captain, seeking a win to halt PBKS's alarming five-match losing streak.
Key Takeaways
Rajat Patidar is absent from RCB's lineup for IPL 2026 Match 61 on 17 May in Dharamsala; Jitesh Sharma leads the side.
Punjab Kings won the toss and elected to bowl at the HPCA Stadium .
Shreyas Iyer is captaining in his 100th match as a skipper in this fixture.
PBKS have lost five consecutive matches and sit fourth with 13 points from 12 games .
RCB have won eight of 12 matches; one more win confirms their playoff spot .
Suyash Sharma replaces Patidar; Romario Shepherd comes in for Jacob Duffy in the RCB XI.
Jitesh Sharma will captain Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in IPL 2026 Match 61 against Punjab Kings (PBKS) at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium, Dharamsala on Sunday, 17 May, after regular skipper Rajat Patidar was ruled out of the fixture. PBKS won the toss and opted to bowl first. Suyash Sharma comes in for Patidar, while Romario Shepherd replaces Jacob Duffy in the RCB XI.
Toss and Team Changes
Shreyas Iyer, captaining Punjab Kings, chose to field after calling it right at the toss. Notably, this was Iyer's 100th match as a captain — a milestone he acknowledged with measured pride. 'I seriously had no clue that this was my 100th game as a captain, but it feels great. It feels like a great opportunity for me to win my 100th game,' he said.
PBKS made two changes to their playing XI, bringing back Harpreet Brar and Lockie Ferguson. Iyer stressed the importance of execution over strategy: 'The bowling has been fantastic, but there are pressure moments where you need to execute... The beauty is to stay in the moment, see the moment, and enjoy the pressure.'
Standing in for Patidar, Jitesh Sharma said RCB would have preferred to bowl first but remained confident in the pitch. 'Rajat is doing fantastic, and we should see him in Hyderabad,' Jitesh said, confirming Patidar's return is expected for the next match. He underlined the stakes: 'One win tonight secures our spot in the playoffs, so it's a massive game for us.'
What Is at Stake for Both Sides
RCB head into this contest in strong form, having won eight of their 12 matches in IPL 2026. A victory here would all but seal their playoff berth and keep alive their ambitions of a top-two finish. They arrive on the back of a confidence-boosting win over the Kolkata Knight Riders, driven by a century from Virat Kohli.
Punjab Kings, by contrast, are in the grip of a damaging run of form. After winning six of their first seven matches and establishing themselves as title contenders, PBKS have since lost five consecutive games. They sit fourth in the points table with 13 points from 12 matches and desperately need a win to arrest the slide and protect their top-four position.
Playing XIs
Punjab Kings: Priyansh Arya, Prabhsimran Singh (wk), Cooper Connolly, Shreyas Iyer (c), Suryansh Shedge, Shashank Singh, Azmatullah Omarzai, Harpreet Brar, Lockie Ferguson, Arshdeep Singh, Yuzvendra Chahal. Impact Substitutes: Marcus Stoinis, Xavier Bartlett, Vishnu Vinod, Praveen Dubey, Musheer Khan.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Jacob Bethell, Virat Kohli, Devdutt Padikkal, Jitesh Sharma (C & WK), Venkatesh Iyer, Tim David, Krunal Pandya, Romario Shepherd, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Suyash Sharma, Josh Hazlewood. Impact Substitutes: Rasikh Dar, Jordan Cox, Abhinandan Singh, Swapnil Singh, Kaushik Chauhan.
Context and What Comes Next
This fixture carries weight beyond the two teams — as Jitesh noted, the result could shift the standings for several sides chasing playoff spots. With RCB one win away from confirming their place in the last four and PBKS fighting to stay in contention, the HPCA Stadium in Dharamsala sets the stage for one of the more consequential clashes of the IPL 2026 league phase. Patidar is expected to return for RCB's next assignment in Hyderabad.
Point of View
Not just a team-sheet footnote. Meanwhile, PBKS's collapse from six wins in seven to five straight losses is one of the tournament's starkest form reversals; bringing back Brar and Ferguson signals panic-tinkering rather than a settled plan. Shreyas Iyer's 100th captaincy game deserves more attention than it is getting — it is a milestone that speaks to his longevity and consistency as a leader across formats and franchises.
NationPress
10 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Rajat Patidar not playing for RCB against PBKS on 17 May?
Rajat Patidar has been left out of RCB's playing XI for IPL 2026 Match 61 at Dharamsala, though the team has not specified the exact reason. Acting captain Jitesh Sharma confirmed Patidar is 'doing fantastic' and is expected to return for RCB's next match in Hyderabad.
Who is captaining RCB in place of Rajat Patidar?
Wicketkeeper-batter Jitesh Sharma is leading Royal Challengers Bengaluru in Patidar's absence. Jitesh is also keeping wickets for the side in this match.
What is Shreyas Iyer's milestone in the PBKS vs RCB match?
This match marks Shreyas Iyer's 100th game as a captain in T20 cricket. Iyer said he was unaware of the milestone beforehand but called it 'a great opportunity' to mark it with a win.
What are the playoff implications of the PBKS vs RCB match on 17 May?
A win for RCB would confirm their place in the IPL 2026 playoffs and keep their top-two hopes alive. For PBKS, victory is essential to halt a five-match losing run and protect their fourth-place standing with 13 points from 12 matches.
What changes did Punjab Kings make to their playing XI against RCB?
Punjab Kings made two changes, bringing in Harpreet Brar and Lockie Ferguson to their playing XI. Both players return after being rested in recent fixtures.
