Defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) need to quickly address a number of issues as they try to keep their IPL 2026 title defense on track after a worrying dip in form midway through the season.The next confrontation against them Mumbai Indians Back-to-back defeats against Gujarat Titans and Lucknow Supergiants in Raipur have become crucial for the Red and Gold team. RCB are currently fourth on the points table with six wins and four losses, and their remaining four matches could decide how their season unfolds.A major concern is the decline in middle-order performance. RCB started the season strongly with Phil Salt’s scheduled top three, Virat Kohli and Devdatta Padikal. They had plenty of batting options in captain Rajat Patidar, Jitesh Sharma, Venkatesh Iyer, Krunal Pandya, Romario Shepherd and Tim David.In the first five matches, RCB’s batsmen from No. 4 to No. 8 averaged 39.30 and scored at a strike rate of 190.77, both best among the teams. He scored two fifties hitting 23 fours and 33 sixes. But in the next five matches, the numbers dropped sharply. The average fell to 21, the worst among all teams in that period, while the strike rate fell to 148.58. Only one fifty came during this phase, with 23 fours and 23 sixes.Salt’s injury has also hurt the team. He played six matches and scored 202 runs at an average of 33.66 and a strike rate of 168.33, including two half-centuries, before a finger injury forced him to return to England. RCB has not shared much details about the injury.In Salt’s absence, Jacob Bethel got a chance at the top of the order. Bethel caused a stir after scoring a century in the T20 World Cup semi-final against India at Wankhede, but has struggled in the IPL so far, scoring just 43 runs in four innings, with a top score of 20. Romario Shepherd’s season hasn’t gone according to plan either. Although known for his hitting prowess, he has scored just 79 runs in six innings at an average of 26.33 and a strike rate of 143.63, with a best score of 23 not out. In the previous game against LSG, they struggled while chasing 20 runs in the last over against the spin of Digvesh Rathi.His bowling numbers have also been poor. Shepherd has taken just five wickets in nine matches at an average of 44.00, with an economy rate of 12.94 and a strike rate of 20.40. Among fast bowlers with at least five wickets this season, he has the second-worst economy rate behind Shardul Thakur’s 13.57.Jitesh Sharma has also endured a tough campaign. After a strong season last year, the wicket-keeper batsman has managed just 64 runs in eight innings at an average of 8.00 and a strike rate of 108.47, with a best score of 23. Their struggles have often forced Tim David and Romario Shepherd to bat earlier than expected.RCB have not got the expected return from Josh Hazlewood either. Nicknamed “Hazelgood” for his ability to deliver under pressure, Hazlewood took nine wickets in seven matches at an average of 28.77 and an economy rate of 9.41, including a four-wicket haul.But the number of matches that RCB have lost has been very weak. In defeats this season, Hazlewood has taken just three wickets at an average of 62.33 and an economy rate of 11.68.The spin department has also struggled. Krunal Pandya and Suyash Sharma have been effective in the first five matches, with the RCB spinners taking 11 wickets at an average of 27.63 and an economy rate of 9.21. In the next five games, he managed to take just five wickets, bowling an average of 42.16 and a strike rate of 30, the worst during that phase. The economy rate only improved, falling to 8.2.Krunal has taken 10 wickets in 10 matches at an average of 27.00 and an economy rate of 8.30, while Suyash has seven wickets in nine matches at an average of 38.42 and an economy rate of 8.45. But RCB need wickets from them, not just control.Virat Kohli’s aggressive batting approach has also become a topic of discussion. Since IPL 2024, Kohli has improved significantly in his strike rate and sixes. This season, he has scored 379 runs in 10 matches at a strike rate of 164.06, his highest ever in an IPL season with three fifties.But RCB’s results show that their wicket has become more important than ever. According to ESPNCricinfo, of the 40 innings Kohli has played since the start of IPL 2024, 20 have been innings where he has faced more than 30 balls. RCB won 18 of those games and lost only two. In the other 20 innings where they were dismissed within 30 balls, RCB lost 14 and won just six.In all four defeats this season, Kohli has faced less than 30 balls. Against LSG and GT, he scored 0 and 28 respectively as RCB lost by nine runs and collapsed on 155. Against Delhi Capitals, he scored 19 runs before being dismissed to Langi Ngidi, after which RCB gradually lost momentum and ended with 175/8. In the loss to Rajasthan Royals, Kohli scored 32 runs and fell to Ravi Bishnoi for 58 for the third wicket. RCB slipped to 125/7 before a middle-order revival took them to 200.RCB have plenty of Indian and overseas batting options and can adapt to different match conditions, but Kohli is still the main figure in the batting line-up.Of RCB’s 1,862 runs this season, 896 runs – 48.12 per cent – came when Kohli was at the crease. His presence has often helped the batsmen at the other end to play with more freedom, knowing that Kohli can control the innings. This is why his wicket has become so important to RCB’s results this season.
