Defending Indian Premier League champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) face a critical phase after a mid-season slump that has put their title defence under threat. Sitting fourth with six wins and four losses, RCB must navigate a challenging run as they prepare to face Mumbai Indians in Raipur.
Their recent difficulties stem from multiple factors, including a decline in middle-order batting performance. After strong showings from Phil Salt, Virat Kohli, and Devdutt Padikkal, the batting from positions four to eight averaged 39.30 with a strike rate of 190.77 in the first five matches, yielding two half-centuries, 23 fours, and 33 sixes. However, this dipped sharply over the next five matches, with an average of just 21 and a strike rate of 148.58, contributing to messy run-chases and frequent wicket losses.
Phil Salt’s finger injury, which caused him to return to the UK after scoring 202 runs in six matches, has further destabilised the side. Despite reports of potential replacements, recent visuals show Salt has returned to India. In his absence, Jacob Bethell has struggled, managing just 43 runs in four innings with a highest score of 20, failing to meet expectations as an opener.
All-rounder Romario Shepherd has also underperformed. He has scored 79 runs from six innings with an average of 26.33 and a strike rate of 143.63, and struggled notably against spin bowling in a recent match against Lucknow Super Giants. His bowling figures are equally concerning, with five wickets in nine matches at an average of 44.00 and an economy rate of 12.94, marking him among the least economical pacers with significant wicket tallies.
Wicketkeeper-batter Jitesh Sharma’s form has sharply declined following last season’s breakout, accumulating just 64 runs in eight innings with an average of 8.00, impairing the team’s batting stability.
Bowler Josh Hazlewood, previously regarded as a clutch performer, has taken nine wickets in seven matches at an average of 28.77, though his performances in defeats have been substandard, with only three wickets taken at a costly average of 62.33 and economy of 11.68.
Spin bowlers Krunal Pandya and Suyash Sharma have been inconsistent. While effective in the early season with 11 wickets from five matches, their impact diminished to five wickets over the next five, with Krunal maintaining a steady economy but requiring more wickets to influence results.
Virat Kohli has continued his aggressive batting approach, which has yielded 379 runs in 10 matches at a strike rate of 164.06, including three half-centuries. Nevertheless, this hyper-aggressive style has occasionally cost the team, as RCB’s win-loss record correlates strongly with Kohli’s time at the crease. The team has lost 14 of 20 innings in which he was dismissed within 30 balls, including all four of their defeats this season where he faced fewer than 30 deliveries.
RCB’s batting lineup remains robust and versatile, blending power hitting with innings control. Kohli’s presence at the crease has historically been a stabilising factor, with 48.12 per cent of the team’s runs this season scored during his tenure at the crease. His early dismissals against Gujarat Titans and Lucknow Super Giants have coincided with collapsed batting performances leading to defeat.
RCB’s losses highlight the impact of key player underperformances and injury setbacks. Their defeats to Lucknow, Gujarat, and Delhi Capitals featured poor middle-order displays and clustered wicket losses, with the team failing to chase 213 against LSG and being dismissed for 155 against GT.
