In 2025, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) ended their long wait and secured their maiden Indian Premier League (IPL) title. With a weight off their shoulders, it is very easy for any team to be a little lethargic and not really get going right away. However, that is not how RCB see the 2026 season, as they currently sit at the top of the points table after five matches. Their approach with the bat has been nothing short of destructive and with the ball, they have been perhaps as clinical as they have ever been in their history.
“Get addicted to winning,” is that director of cricket, Mo Bobat, had told the team after winning the title last year, and it is with that same vigour and passion RCB have set out for IPL 2026. Even for the backroom staff and management, winning just one title wasn’t enough. Winning back-to-back titles became the target right after they tasted success last year.
While many teams went all out in securing players at the auction, RCB did not seem to be in a hurry. Their core, consisting of Phil Salt, Virat Kohli, Rajat Patidar, Krunal Pandya, Tim David and Josh Hazlewood, was already a solid one. For them, the auction provided an opportunity to give their squad a little more depth.
Bowling a concern no more
If you have followed over the year, it is their bowling department that has often let them down. RCB were never short of batting superstars with the likes of Kohli, AB de Villiers, Chris Gayle and Glenn Maxwell scoring plenty, but that was not going to be enough if the bowlers don’t back it up. Their title drought for 17 seasons could potentially be put down to this.
Now, they have a superb mix of Indian and overseas bowlers, who are delivering. Not to mention, uncapped bowlers like Rasikh Salam and Suyash Sharma too have played key roles in digging the team out of precarious situations.
The bowling unit clicked beautifully against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) on April 15 (Wednesday), when a batting line-up consisting of Mitchell Marsh, Aiden Markram, Nicholas Pooran and Rishabh Pant were bundled out for just 146 and that too at the Chinnaswamy Stadium, where even 200 has rarely been enough.
Winning at the Chinnaswamy has always been an issue for RCB. Even last year, they lost their first three games at this venue. They figured out a way to get over that hurdle, they have not lost since and now they are their dominant, brutal best at home, a key component in going all the way.
No irresponsible buys
They got a proven Indian all-rounder in Venkatesh Iyer for just INR 7 crore and added to their depth of overseas placers by getting Jacob Duffy, who is one of the sought-after bowlers in the world. With Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Hazlewood being top class across phases of play and you add Rasikh Salam in there along with the spinners Krunal Pandya and Suyash Sharma, you have a formidable unit.
Not to forget, they also have Romario Shepherd with the talented Jacob Bethell and an impressive Nuwan Thushara warming the bench. Not to forget, along with Abhinandan Singh, RCB also have plenty of talented uncapped players, who are waiting for a chance to prove themselves.
The result? RCB have the best run-rate in the tournament, scoring at 10.85 per over and with the ball, they have struck every 15.4 deliveries (second best), 25.47 runs apart (second best).
With impressive retentions and not a foot wrong in the auction, RCB have dished out a lesson to other teams as to how to go about things. The IPL is not just won on the field, but also based on your decisions out off it.
For the Rajat Patidar-led side, it has been smooth sailing thus far, but he would know that it is important ot to get carried away by this excellent start as all this could eventually be for nothing.
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