Royal Challengers Bengaluru head into Match 26 against Delhi Capitals at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium on April 18 sitting second on the IPL 2026 table with four wins from five matches.

The defending champions are in strong form but carrying a selection headache that most teams would be happy to have. Josh Hazlewood returned from his injury absence against LSG on April 15 and immediately won Player of the Match.

Jacob Duffy, who had been outstanding in his absence taking six wickets in three matches including a debut 3 for 22 against SRH, now finds himself the most over-qualified backup in the tournament. Whether either player or both find a place in the XI against DC on April 18 is the central selection question for Rajat Patidar heading into the toss.

Will Jacob Duffy play the RCB vs DC game

The short answer is probably not. Hazlewood's return against LSG was not just a fitness confirmation. It was a statement of quality that made it very difficult for RCB to leave him out of any subsequent game.

His control with the new ball at the Chinnaswamy where the short boundaries make disciplined bowling essential is precisely what RCB need from their overseas pace slot. Hazlewood provides that in a way that very few bowlers in the world can match.

Jacob Duffy's case for inclusion remains strong on numbers alone. Six wickets in three matches at an average of 23. A debut 3 for 22 against SRH that dismantled their top order from the first over.

An economy of 11.5 that looks high but reflects the high-scoring nature of IPL 2026 broadly rather than any specific weakness in his bowling. The 31-year-old New Zealander was bought for Rs 2 crore at the auction and has produced value that far exceeds that price tag.

He has taken 62 wickets in 48 T20Is for New Zealand at an average of 20.26 and his ability to hit hard lengths consistently makes Jacob Duffy one of the more reliable wicket-taking options RCB have available.

But unless Patidar decides to rest Romario Shepherd or another overseas player to accommodate both Duffy and Hazlewood in the same XI, Duffy will sit out tonight and watch Hazlewood bowl the overs he had been bowling in his absence.

Also READ: Will Mitchell Starc play today's IPL 2026 match? Exploring DC's best XI against RCB

RCB predicted XI vs DC and what to expect at Chinnaswamy

Virat Kohli has trained at full intensity in the nets having addressed injury concerns from the previous game. He is expected to be fully available. Phil Salt opens and keeps wicket. Kohli opens alongside him. Devdutt Padikkal comes in at three providing the left-handed balance that has been one of RCB's most effective tactical adjustments this season. Rajat Patidar at four as captain. Jitesh Sharma at five as the designated spin basher.

Tim David at six as the death over muscle. Romario Shepherd at seven as the lower order all-round option. Krunal Pandya at eight for his middle over control and batting depth. Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Josh Hazlewood as the two pace specialists. Suyash Sharma as the leg-spin option at eleven.

The Impact Player slot gives RCB flexibility. Rasikh Salam as an extra pace option or Venkatesh Iyer as a batting reinforcement are the two likely choices depending on what the pitch does at the toss.

Against DC's batting lineup which includes KL Rahul, Pathum Nissanka, David Miller and Tristan Stubbs the RCB bowling attack will need to be disciplined from the first over. The Chinnaswamy has produced high scores throughout IPL 2026 and both sides will be aware that totals under 190 are likely to be chased down on this surface.

RCB predicted XI: Phil Salt, Virat Kohli, Devdutt Padikkal, Rajat Patidar (c), Jitesh Sharma, Tim David, Romario Shepherd, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Josh Hazlewood, Suyash Sharma. Impact Player: Rasikh Salam or Venkatesh Iyer.