Let’s face it, being an RCB fan is a roller coaster ride. After one moment thinking you might be holding the IPL trophy, the next moment you are wondering how it all went wrong. But this time it is somewhat different. In a move that hasn’t always materialized in the past, RCB had a less-than-spectacular start, but after starting to find their feet, they went on to win six of their nine matches, and even better, they broke the home curse! So, this begs the question to all fans: Are RCB playoff contenders this season? So, let’s unpack this.
Finally Winning at Home
RCB’s record at M. The pitch has large, unfriendly conditions for the bowler, and the batters have to contend with a wicked pitch that is a good 5-10 % less than what a batter would be comfortable with. As Aaron Finch said, they have “got the monkey off their back” with the home form, which is important in a mental spot. You are not just trying to survive. You are trying to go out and dominate, especially at home where you not only get points, but also build some confidence with your peers, and build belief. Once you start building belief in T20s, you know you have only fought half the battle.
The Secret Sauce of RCB’s Revival
One-way RCB has improved is in the middle over’s acceleration. In the game against Rajasthan Royals, that 73-run barrage in the middle overs with the innings from Padikkal and Kohli between the 11th and 15th overs was the ultimate momentum switch in the game. It was during that time when RCB thrived and RR wilted.
This change in tactics would suggest the team is putting importance on middle overs and not just the fireworks produced in the first 10 overs. Perhaps, we can say they have made the leap from salad to main dish. Middle overs supremacy is becoming their weaponry instead of a weapon, as pressure is now relocating back to the opposition, and it gives them a little buffer, just in case the death overs become chaotic. It is a sign of growth from a group that has adjusted to winning ugly.
Death Over Discipline: Hazlewood & Co. Bring the Heat
RCB have notoriously struggled at the death, but there is a recognisable difference this season. Josh Hazlewood – cool, calm, and collected- is executing under pressure like a pro finisher. Finch’s ranking of Starc as the death specialist with Hazlewood a close, and high praise, and rightly so.
What’s the difference? It’s more than just pace – it is control, clever variation, and cooler than ice nerves. And if you are a competing team that is looking to cash in during the final overs, let’s just say this does not bode well. With these types of bowlers, RCB can finally have the confidence to defend totals or effectively strangle chases.
Are the RCB favorably positioned for the playoffs? Yes – with an asterisk. They have the momentum, they have gotten over the home game hoodoo, and they have apparent mechanisms in place to change the momentum of a game with the ball. Provided they continue to play at a level of consistency, there is no reason to believe they should not be aiming for the top two.
But let’s not go too far. As Ambati Rayudu said, they should be looking at one or two, not just looking to grab that fourth place. The IPL is brutal, and each game from here is a mini-final. However, RCB fans can still exhale comfortably, and maybe even start to dream again, for now.
Could the stars align this season for the Royal Challengers to finally shake off the almost-there label and clinch the title? Or are we due for yet another heartbreak? Let’s just say—this time, the indications are very different.