The countdown for IPL 2026 has officially begun with the BCCI unveiling the schedule for the first 20 matches. While fans are busy marking their calendars for the March 28 start, legendary former Indian coach and cricketer Ravi Shastri has added fuel to the fire by picking his top two favorites for the upcoming season.

Shastri, known for his bold opinions, has placed his bets on the five-time champions Mumbai Indians (MI) and the defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). According to Shastri, Mumbai Indians have rectified their squad balance this year and look formidable under Hardik Pandya’s leadership. On the other hand, he feels RCB has finally found the winning formula and will play with the confidence of champions.

“Mumbai looks hungry to end their drought, and RCB has the momentum from their historic win last year,” Shastri remarked during a pre-season discussion. Interestingly, he overlooked heavyweights like CSK and KKR for his top two spots, sparking a massive debate among fans. The tournament is set to kick off at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium with RCB taking on SRH, and with 20 matches scheduled across 10 venues in the first phase, the race for the top spot is wide open.