Bengaluru, April 15 (NationPress) - The Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) have emerged victorious at the toss, opting to bowl first against the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in the 23rd encounter of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026, taking place at the M.Chinnaswamy Stadium this Wednesday.

RCB has made a solitary alteration in their playing lineup, reintroducing Josh Hazlewood in place of Jacob Duffy, while Virat Kohli will serve as an impact player. On the other hand, LSG has retained their lineup without any changes.

Following the toss, RCB captain Rajat Patidar stated, "We are going to bowl first. The surface looks quite promising. By opting to bowl first, we can capitalize on the initial innings and maintain the pressure. The previous match had a lot of grass, but I believe this pitch is quite clear, making it a good track. Let's see how it unfolds."

"The team is performing well, focusing on necessary improvements. We thrive on the different stages we encounter, and that's what our team represents. Just one change: Josh Hazlewood replaces Duffy," he added.

In response to the lost toss, LSG captain Rishabh Pant remarked, "It’s a solid wicket for batting. On such pitches, you can either bat or bowl first, but ultimately, better cricket will determine the outcome. As a team, we need to regroup, take ownership of our roles, and avoid excessive introspection on our gameplay."

"We must trust our group and hope that individuals will step up to win matches for the team. We have several leaders within our ranks, yet it’s crucial to perform under pressure while striving for success. We are fielding the same team," he added.

RCB enters this match following a significant victory over the five-time champions Mumbai Indians by 57 runs, while LSG faced defeat at the hands of the Gujarat Titans on their home turf.

Currently, RCB ranks third in the points table, aiming for the top position with a win against LSG, who sit in seventh place with two wins and two losses.

In the historical context of this rivalry, RCB has a clear advantage, with four wins compared to LSG's two.

The last encounter between these teams in IPL 2025 saw RCB secure a comfortable six-wicket victory, reinforcing their dominance in recent matchups.

Playing XIs:

Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Philip Salt, Devdutt Padikkal, Rajat Patidar(c), Tim David, Jitesh Sharma(w), Romario Shepherd, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Josh Hazlewood, Suyash Sharma

Impact Substitutes: Virat Kohli, Jordan Cox, Mangesh Yadav, Kaushik Chauhan, Venkatesh Iyer.

Lucknow Super Giants: Mitchell Marsh, Aiden Markram, Rishabh Pant(w/c), Ayush Badoni, Nicholas Pooran, Abdul Samad, Mukul Choudhary, Mohammed Shami, Avesh Khan, Digvesh Singh Rathi, Prince Yadav

Impact Substitutes: Mayank Yadav, George Linde, M.Siddharth, Matthew Bretzke, Himmat Singh.