The atmosphere at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium usually promises a massive start to the cricket season, but there is a definite bit of worry in the air as 2026 kicks off. Fans everywhere are waiting for that March 28 start date when the champions, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, take on Sunrisers Hyderabad.

Mind you, the talk has shifted lately from match tactics to injury reports because of some big setbacks for both sides. These problems might change how the start of the tournament looks, especially since people expect to see the world's best fast bowlers in action.

Sunrisers Hyderabad are in a tricky spot because their captain, Pat Cummins, is still out with a back problem that won't go away. He hasn't played a game since December 2025 in Adelaide, and that long break meant he sat out the T20 World Cup earlier this year too.

Word is that Ishan Kishan or Abhishek Sharma might have to step up as captain if the Aussie isn't fit for the first match. To cover the bowling, the Hyderabad bosses might have to look at Brydon Carse or Ehsan Malinga to lead the way instead.

At the same time, the Bengaluru squad has its own hurdles with Josh Hazlewood still working on a hamstring injury from back in November 2025. Because of that physical issue, he missed the Ashes and the T20 World Cup, so the champions are now looking at Jacob Duffy or Nuwan Thushara as early options. The Aussie might miss the first two matches.

On the topic of the wider league, Mahela Jayawardene mentioned that Rohit Sharma looks like he is in great shape. The coach said he wants to keep the veteran on the pitch for as long as possible this year rather than using him as a sub. He explained that Rohit dealt with several small injuries last season, which slowed him down. So, the team feels good that the experienced batter can contribute much more this time around.