Bengaluru: The Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) have always been a team of towering expectations without the desired results to back-up the hype around them.
The star-studded line-ups and electrifying batting at the M Chinnaswamy stadium have offered fans their share of thrills, but for all their high-octane entertainment and great potential, the IPL trophy has somehow remained out of reach. Will that narrative change this time around? Mind you, the red and gold brigade have fallen at the final hurdle three times previously.
But what’s so different this time around that has once again ignited fans’ enduring hopes? Of course, the eight wins -- including six in a row on the road -- out of 11 matches have contributed greatly to this feeling, but the transformation isn’t just in results. There is a different vibe to them this time around. There’s a sharpness to their game, a balance they’ve long lacked and a hunger that doesn’t border on the desperate.
At the root of their resurgence is a top order firing on all cylinders. Virat Kohli, on top of the run-makers this edition, and the hard-hitting Phil Salt -- whose temporary absence has been effectively neutralised by fellow Briton Jacob Bethell -- have often given brisk starts, making the most of powerplay restrictions, and to pave the way for a calculated risk-taking approach through the middle overs. The cream of batting has evolved -- from a collection of individual superstars -- into a cohesive, complementing run-making machine capable of dismantling any attack.
One of the striking features of their campaign has been their finishing depth. In previous seasons, RCB’s middle and lower order often lacked explosiveness and consistency, exposing a soft underbelly in tight games. This year, however, the finishers have stepped up in style -- be it Jitesh Sharma or Tim David, while Romario Shepherd showed his destructive prowess against Chennai Super Kings on Saturday. The beefing up of the batting muscle at the back end of the innings, has enabled them to push totals past 200 or chase down tricky targets with nerveless energy. Never in their 18-year history have RCB looked so calm and comfortable in the final overs.
That said, the real revelation has been their bowling department, long considered RCB’s vulnerable spot. This season, it’s turned into a genuine strength. The combination of experience and skill sets has provided an edge rarely seen in Bengaluru’s past line-ups.
Josh Hazlewood’s return has been a masterstroke. His precision with the new ball, breakthroughs in the middle and control at the death have added that missing menace to the attack. The presence of Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who mainly operates in the powerplay and the death overs, brings a sense of calm under pressure. His skill to swing the new ball and ability to nail yorkers in the death have made a telling difference. Yash Dayal provides the left-arm pace option, and his knack for producing crucial breakthroughs continues to be an asset.
Talking about the three-pronged pace attack after their first win at home against Rajasthan Royals, Andy Flower, RCB’s Head Coach, said: “I think those three quicks have been great for us so far this season. I’ve got some more work to do, obviously, to help us in the last third of the league matches and Hazlewood certainly leads from the front in that regard.”
Krunal Pandya’s all-round skills have lent RCB line-up the balance they had been hoping to strike for long. With his smart left-arm spin and ability to use the long handle to good effect, the southpaw has made himself integral to the line-up. Suyash Sharma -- the young, portly leg-spinner -- has caught the attention for his fearless bowling and penchant for big wickets. Some even refer to him as RCB’s X factor!
These cohesive performances, rather than individual brilliance, have been the hallmark of RCB’s campaign this season. There are well-defined roles for each player, and more importantly, each one of them has delivered when it has mattered.
David spoke precisely about the role clarity in a chat with iplt20.com. “When I arrived this year, we had meetings prior to the tournament starting. I’m really grateful that the coaching staff had clear plans for me...” said David in a video posted on Saturday. “... I’m prepared to bat at any position. Like, my team-mates know what my job is in this team. I know what my job is. It’s a role that I’m getting more comfortable with the more you do it - understanding different phases of pressure, whether you’re absorbing from the opposition or trying to put pressure back on them.”
This is no longer a team loaded with larger-than-life superstars. It’s a multi-faceted unit which possesses what it takes to be a champion outfit. And no one epitomises this trait more than their captain, Rajat Patidar. A left-field choice for the role, he has performed with the bat and led with firmness.
For a franchise that has long flirted with the ultimate success but fallen short too often, this year feels different. The chemistry within the set-up, the intensity on the field and the all-round depth signal at something special. The fans -- the most passionate and loyal in the league -- are daring to dream once again.
There’s just one lingering concern: their home form this season. While they’ve been flawless on the road, clinching an unprecedented six out of six victories, their fortress Chinnaswamy has looked anything but secure, with two wins from five outings, surviving against CSK on Saturday by the skin of their teeth despite having to defend a 214-run target. With two of their final three matches set to be played on home turf, they’ll do well to win one more at home to secure a play-off spot with the top six pulling away from the bottom four and raising the bar for qualification.
It’s still too early to cut the cake, but if RCB maintain the same tempo, they might just script a story their legacy has long deserved.