RCB Vs LSG, IPL 2026: Why Is Virat Kohli Not In Royal Challengers Bengaluru's Playing XI?

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) went with a solitary change on Wednesday (April 15) in match 23 of Indian Premier League 2026 against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG). Captain Rajat Patidar confirmed at the toss that Jacob Duffy was replaced by fellow seamer Josh Hazlewood in the playing XI.

That meant the legendary Virat Kohli did not figure in RCB's bowling-first XI. The senior pro is expected to come in as Impact Substitute when the hosts commence their chase.

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Kohli had injured his ankle during RCB's previous match against Mumbai Indians and did not field during the second innings. That could be the reason why he did not take the field, and might only bat.

Earlier, Patidar won the toss and elected to bowl first against Lucknow Super Giants.

RCB Vs LSG, IPL 2026: Playing XIs

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

LSG Impact Subs: Manimaran Siddharth, George Linde, Matthew Breetzke, Himmat Singh, Mayank Yadav

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

RCB Impact subs: Virat Kohli, Venkatesh Iyer, Jordan Cox, Kanishk Chouhan, Mangesh Yadav