Defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) need to quickly sort out a few issues as they look to keep their IPL 2026 title defense on track after a worrying mid-season dip in form.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 in the points table with six wins and four losses and their remaining four matches could decide how their season pans out.One of the main problems was the drop in performance from the middle order. RCB started the season strongly with the established front 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’s batsmen from No. 4 to No. 8 averaged 39.30 and scored a strike rate of 190.77, both the best of any team. They scored two fifties and hit 23 fours and 33 sixes. But in the next five games, the numbers dropped sharply. The average fell to 21, the worst of any team in that period, while the strike rate fell to 148.58. Only one fifty came during this phase with 23 fours and 23 sixes scored.Salt’s injury 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 fifties, before a finger injury forced him to return to the UK. RCB did not share many details about the injury.In Salt’s absence, Jacob Bethell was given an opportunity at the top of the order. Bethell created a stir after scoring a century in the T20 World Cup semi-final against India at the Wankhede, but has struggled in the IPL so far, scoring just 43 runs in four innings, with a top score of 20. Roman Shepherd’s season didn’t go according to plan either. Although known for his batting ability, he scored only 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 match against LSG, he struggled for 20 runs in the final against the spin of Digvesh Rathi.His bowling numbers were also poor. Shepherd took only 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 pacers with at least five wickets this season, he has the second-worst economy rate behind Shardul Thakur at 13.57.Jitesh Sharma also endured a tough campaign. After a strong season last year, the batsman managed just 64 runs in eight innings at an average of 8.00 and a strike rate of 108.47, with a top score of 23. His struggles often forced Tim David and Romario Shepherd to bat earlier than expected.RCB also did not get the expected returns from Josh Hazlewood. Nicknamed “Hazlegod” for his ability to deliver in pressure situations, Hazlewood took nine wickets in seven matches at an average of 28.77 and an economy rate of 9.41, including one four-wicket haul.But in the matches that RCB lost, his numbers were much weaker. 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 also has problems. 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. They managed just five wickets in the next five games, with their bowling average rising to 42.16 and their strike rate touching 30, their worst at this stage. The only improvement was the economy rate, which fell to 8.2.Krunal has taken 10 wickets in 10 matches at an average of 27.00 and an economy of 8.30, while Suyash has seven wickets in nine matches at an average of 38.42 and an economy of 8.45. But RCB need wickets from them, not just control.Virat Kohli’s aggressive batting approach has also become a topic. Since IPL 2024, Kohli has significantly improved his strike rate and sixes. This season, he has scored 379 runs in 10 matches at a strike rate of 164.06, his highest in IPL history, along with three fifties.But RCB’s results suggest that 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 has faced more than 30 balls. RCB won 18 of those games and lost only two. In the other 20 innings where he got to 30 balls, RCB lost 14 and won only six.In all four defeats this season, Kohli has faced less than 30 balls. Against LSG and GT, he scored 0 and 28 as RCB lost by nine runs and were bowled out for 155. Against Delhi Capitals, he scored 19 before getting to Lungi Ngidi, after which RCB gradually lost pace and ended up on 175/8. In the defeat to Rajasthan Royals, Kohli made 32 before falling to Ravi Bishnoi for the third wicket for 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.Of RCB’s 1862 runs this season, 896 runs – 48.12 per cent – have come when Kohli has been at the crease. His presence often helped the batsman at the other end to play with more freedom knowing that Kohli could control the innings. This is why his wicket has become so important to RCB’s results this season.
