Defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) need to fix several issues quickly as they try to keep their IPL 2026 title defence on track after a worrying dip in form midway through the season.Their upcoming clash against Mumbai Indians in Raipur has become important for the Red and Gold side after back-to-back defeats against Gujarat Titans and Lucknow Super Giants. 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.One major concern has been the drop in performance from the middle order. RCB had started the season strongly with a settled top three of Phil Salt, Virat Kohli and Devdutt Padikkal. They also 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 batters from No. 4 to No. 8 averaged 39.30 and scored at a strike rate of 190.77, both the best among all teams. They scored two fifties while 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 dropped to 148.58. Only one fifty came during that phase, with 23 fours and 23 sixes scored.Salt’s injury has also hurt the team. He played six matches and scored 202 runs at an average of 33.66 and strike rate of 168.33, including two fifties, before a finger injury forced him to return to the UK. RCB have not shared many details about the injury.In Salt’s absence, Jacob Bethell got an opportunity at the top of the order. Bethell had created buzz after scoring a century in the T20 World Cup semifinal against India at the Wankhede, but he has struggled in the IPL so far, scoring only 43 runs in four innings, with a highest score of 20. Romario Shepherd’s season has also not gone according to plan. Though known for his hitting ability, he has scored only 79 runs in six innings at an average of 26.33 and strike rate of 143.63, with a best score of 23 not out. In the previous game against LSG, he struggled during a chase of 20 runs in the final over against the spin of Digvesh Rathi.His bowling numbers have been poor as well. Shepherd has taken only five wickets in nine matches at an average of 44.00, with an economy rate of 12.94 and strike rate of 20.40. Among pacers 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 difficult campaign. After a strong season last year, the wicketkeeper-batter has managed just 64 runs in eight innings at an average of 8.00 and strike rate of 108.47, with a best score of 23. His struggles have often forced Tim David and Romario Shepherd to bat earlier than expected.RCB have also not got the expected returns from Josh Hazlewood. Nicknamed “Hazlegod” for his ability to deliver in pressure situations, Hazlewood has taken nine wickets in seven matches at an average of 28.77 and economy rate of 9.41, including one four-wicket haul.But in matches RCB have lost, his numbers have been much weaker. In defeats this season, Hazlewood has taken only three wickets at an average of 62.33 and economy rate of 11.68.The spin department has also struggled. Krunal Pandya and Suyash Sharma were effective in the first five matches, with RCB spinners taking 11 wickets at an average of 27.63 and economy rate of 9.21. In the next five games, they managed only five wickets, with the bowling average rising to 42.16 and strike rate touching 30, the worst during that phase. The only improvement came in economy rate, which dropped to 8.2.Krunal has taken 10 wickets in 10 matches at an average of 27.00 and economy rate of 8.30, while Suyash has seven wickets in nine matches at an average of 38.42 and economy rate of 8.45. But RCB need wickets from them, not just control.Virat Kohli’s aggressive batting approach has also become a talking point. Since IPL 2024, Kohli has improved his strike rate and six-hitting significantly. This season, he has scored 379 runs in 10 matches at a strike rate of 164.06, his highest ever in an IPL season, along with three fifties.But RCB’s results suggest his wicket has become more important than ever. According to ESPNCricinfo, in the 40 innings Kohli has played since the start of IPL 2024, there have been 20 innings where he faced more than 30 balls. RCB won 18 of those games and lost only two. In the other 20 innings where he got out within 30 balls, RCB lost 14 and won only six.In all four defeats this season, Kohli has faced fewer than 30 balls. Against LSG and GT, he scored 0 and 28 respectively as RCB lost by nine runs and were bowled out for 155. Against Delhi Capitals, he scored 19 before getting out to Lungi Ngidi, after which RCB gradually lost momentum and finished with 175/8. In the defeat to Rajasthan Royals, Kohli made 32 before falling to Ravi Bishnoi as the third wicket at 58 runs. RCB slipped to 125/7 before a middle-order recovery took them to 200.RCB have enough Indian and overseas batting options and can adapt to different match situations, but Kohli still remains the key figure in the batting line-up.Out of RCB’s 1,862 runs this season, 896 runs — 48.12 per cent — have come while Kohli was at the crease. His presence has often helped the batter at the other end play with more freedom, knowing that Kohli can control the innings. That is why his wicket has become so important to RCB’s results this season.
