Published on: Apr 9, 2026 7:30 pm IST | Updated on: Apr 9, 2026 6:53 pm IST
It’s the battle of the ‘Royals’ in match 16 of Tata IPL 2026. The reigning, defending, undisputed champions, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, will be locking horns against Rajasthan Royals at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati. Along with Punjab Kings and Delhi Capitals, both Royal Challengers and Royals are among the undefeated teams of this tournament so far, making this an exciting contest. At the end of this game, we will be left with only three undefeated teams in this season of Tata IPL. In this post, we have come up with free expert tips for the 16th match of the Indian Premier League (IPL 2026), RR vs RCB, at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium, Guwahati.
It is quite tough to choose a favorite between these two sides. Both the Royal Challengers and the Royals have played fearless cricket and have remained unbeaten. The reigning champions should have their tails up as they are heading into this contest on the back of a massive win over arch-rivals Chennai Super Kings by 43 runs. Given the way they have played in their opening two games, both with the ball and the bat, expect the Royal Challengers to have the win probability meter favoring them in this clash. Let’s continue with the post and find out the best cricket tips for the 16th match of the Indian Premier League (IPL 2026), RR vs RCB, at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium, Guwahati.
RR: 42% win chance RCB: 58% win chance
The former RCB skipper has notched up 96 runs in two innings so far including an unbeaten 68 against the Sunrisers Hyderabad. Expect the champion batter to play a crucial role at the top.
RR's pocket-rocket has been batting like there's no tomorrow. After scoring a 15-ball 50 in RR's opening game against the bottom-placed CSK, Sooryavanshi has notched up two quick-fire 30s and is looking in blatant form. Expect him to continue his pyrotechnics against RCB as well.
The RCB skipper is fresh off an unbeaten 19-ball 48 against the minnows Chennai Super Kings. Expect Rajat to blast his way in Guwahati as well against the Royals.
Jaiswal is the current orange cap holder with more than 160 runs in the season so far from 3 innings. Fresh off a swashbuckling fifty in the last game against MI, Yashasvi is brimming with confidence and would be looking to continue from where he left in the last game.
Check out our prediction for the RR vs RCB Indian Premier League 2026, match 16.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru will be eyeing their third consecutive victory over Rajasthan Royals when the two unbeaten sides clash in the 16th match of IPL 2026. Picking a favorite is tough, as both teams have played fearless cricket so far, but the reigning champions RCB will carry extra momentum after a commanding 43‑run win against arch‑rivals Chennai Super Kings.
Head-to-head, RCB hold a slight edge with a 3:2 win ratio in their last five meetings, including back-to-back wins over RR. Virat Kohli, Rajat Patidar, Tim David, and Devdutt Padikkal form the backbone of their batting unit, capable of setting or chasing daunting totals. On the bowling front, Bhuvneshwar Kumar has already picked up four wickets this season and will spearhead the pace attack alongside Jacob Duffy, who has five scalps to his name.
For spin duties, Krunal Pandya and Suyash Sharma remain key options, providing balance to the attack. Rajasthan, however, are equally formidable, and their unbeaten run ensures this contest will be a high‑stakes battle. With both sides in prime form, fans can expect a thrilling encounter where RCB aim to extend their dominance over the Royals.
Rajasthan Royals have made a flawless start to IPL 2026, winning three out of three and firmly sitting atop the points table with six points. Their latest triumph came against five‑time champions Mumbai Indians, a 27‑run victory in a rain‑curtailed clash at Guwahati, further underlining their dominance this season.
The Royals’ batting unit has been spearheaded by the young opening pair of Vaibhav Suryavanshi and Yashasvi Jaiswal, who have consistently provided brisk starts. Dhruv Jurel’s composure in the middle order and Shimron Hetmyer’s finishing prowess add depth and firepower, making RR’s batting lineup one of the most balanced in the tournament.
On the bowling front, Nandre Burger has led the pace attack with aggression, ably supported by the experienced Jofra Archer. The spin department is headlined by Ravi Bishnoi, who currently holds the Purple Cap and will be tasked with dismantling RCB’s batting order.
With momentum on their side and a well‑rounded squad firing in all departments, Rajasthan Royals will be determined to extend their unbeaten run and consolidate their position at the top of the table. Let’s move ahead and check the cricket tips.
Matches Played: 34 RR won: 14 RCB won: 17 No Result: 3
The Royal Challengers and the Royals have squared off as many as 34 times in IPL history. It’s a very hard-fought rivalry between the two sides as the Royals have won 14, whereas the Royal Challengers have won 17 fixtures. Three games between the two teams ended up without a result.
How will the two teams, i.e., the Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Rajasthan Royals, fare in the 16th match of IPL 2026? Let’s take a look.
Yashasvi Jaiswal, Vaibhav Suryavanshi, Dhruv Jurel (WK), Riyan Parag (C), Shimron Hetmyer, Donovan Ferriera, Ravindra Jadeja, Jofra Archer, Nandre Burger, Tushar Deshpande, Sandeep Sharma IMPACT SUB: Ravi Bishnoi
Philip Salt, Virat Kohli, Devdutt Padikkal, Rajat Patidar (C), Jitesh Sharma (WK), Tim David, Romario Shepherd, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Abhinandan Singh, Jacob Duffy IMPACT SUB: Suyash Sharma
Here’s the pitch and weather report for the 16th match of the Indian Premier League 2026 between Rajasthan Royals and Royal Challengers Bengaluru at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati.
With Barsapara’s batting‑friendly surface and dew expected later, the toss winner will likely prefer chasing. A first‑innings total of 180+ could be competitive, but batting under lights offers the safer route for both Rajasthan and Bengaluru. Also, both teams prefer chasing, meaning the captain winning the toss should lean in favor of bowling first.
The online live streaming of the 16th IPL 2026 match between the Rajasthan Royals and Royal Challengers Bengaluru will take place live on the JioHotstar App. TV viewers can watch the match live on the Star Sports 1, 2, and 3 HD and non-HD channels.
This is perhaps the game of the tournament so far. Both teams are yet to lose a game and must be looking to keep their imperious record intact. Royal Challengers Bengaluru have proved again and again why they are the defending champions. The team stacked up the highest score of this season in the last game against the Chennai Super Kings and are brimming with confidence. Royals, on the other hand, are heading into this game on the back of a win over the 5-time champions Mumbai Indians in a rain-curtailed game. Both sides have played some fearless brand of cricket, and it’s quite tough to choose between the two. However, we are slightly in favor of the defending champions to win this game. Therefore, as per our prediction, Royal Challengers Bengaluru are expected to win IPL 2026 Match 16, RR vs RCB.
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