India, March 21 -- The countdown to the 2026 Indian Premier League has begun with a familiar surge of anticipation around Royal Challengers Bengaluru, the defending champions entering the season under intense scrutiny, rising fan interest, and renewed off-field controversy.

As ticket demand steadily builds ahead of the March 28 opener, attention has simultaneously shifted to the unexplained absence of one of the franchise's key bowlers, Yash Dayal, whose situation has cast a shadow over preparations.

The buzz surrounding Royal Challengers Bengaluru, widely known as RCB, is rooted in both recent triumph and expectation. The franchise clinched its first-ever IPL title in 2025 after an 18-year wait, transforming its long-standing narrative...