IPL 2026 | Bowling worries return as RCB eye title defence

Bengaluru: The tragic stampede that claimed the lives of 11 fans during their maiden victory celebrations last June and the future ownership of the franchise are set to loom large on Royal Challengers Bengaluru's campaign when they begin their title defence on March 28, the day IPL-19 kicks off.

After 17 seasons of heartbreak and heavy ridicule, the Royal Challengers finally laid their hands on the coveted trophy on an emotional June 3 night at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, where the talismanic Virat Kohli broke down and the rest of the contingent had tears of joy flowing like a river. Many fans at the venue too couldn’t hide their emotions while the ones in Bengaluru hit the roads post 11.00 pm to celebrate a day they’d been waiting for all their lives.

A massive crowd even turned up for the hastily arranged victory celebrations the next day, which was attended by the who’s who from the state government too. Sadly, the most special day in the history of the franchise turned into one of the most tragic in Indian sports, as 11 fans lost their lives and several got injured, which brought top-flight cricketing operations at the Chinnaswamy Stadium to a complete halt.

The proactive approach by the KSCA finally yielded results with the State government clearing decks to conduct matches at the iconic venue.   

In the interim, United Spirits Limited, a subsidiary of Diageo that owns RCB, put the franchise up for sale in November, and the England-based company is hoping to finalise a buyer by the end of this month.

Amidst this backdrop, RCB will be looking to defend the crown, although they can look forward to the season with confidence as their core is very much intact. On the batting front, they have the young Devdutt Padikkal, who has been in the form of his life across formats in recent months, the talismanic Kohli, captain courageous Rajat Patidar, and dangerous Englishman Phil Salt. 

To bolster the top order, the think tank procured all-rounder Venkatesh Iyer, who will be hungry for a strong season following a blip last year, and young Englishman Jacob Bethell. The southpaw gave a glimpse of his exceptional talent in the the just-concluded T20 World Cup, and if he gets regular starts, he could be a game-changer for RCB. In essence, RCB have a good mix of youth, experience and firepower in their top and middle order.

Royal Challengers have their bases covered in the finishing department too, with Jitesh Sharma, Tim David, and Romario Shepherd all capable of playing those game-changing cameos. All three displayed that last season, and Jitesh, who sadly missed out on a spot in the Indian team for the T20 World Cup, will be gearing up to make a name for himself.

If there’s an area of concern, it’s the bowling department. Australian Josh Hazlewood, an integral member in RCB’s triumph, is set to miss the early part of the season as he recovers from an injury, while one wonders what frame of mind Yash Dayal will be in following his legal troubles over the last year. That leaves veterans Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Jacob Duffy to lead the pace attack, which appears lacking in depth.

If RCB wish to stay champions, a lot will depend on their batting might as bowling, their Achilles Heel for a long time, resurfaces again.

Squad: Rajat Patidar (capt), Devdutt Padikkal, Virat Kohli, Phil Salt (wk), Jitesh Sharma (wk), Jordan Cox (wk), Krunal Pandya, Swapnil Singh, Tim David, Romario Shepherd, Jacob Bethell, Venkatesh Iyer, Satvik Deswal, Mangesh Yadav, Vicky Ostwal, Vihaan Malhotra, Kanishk Chouhan, Josh Hazlewood, Rasikh Dar, Suyash Sharma, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Nuwan Thushara, Abhinandan Singh, Jacob Duffy, Yash Dayal.

Best finish: Champions (2025)

New Chandigarh: Royal Challengers Bengaluru

Devdutt Padikkal of RCB player in action against CSK in Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) vs Chennai Super Kings (CSK) IPL Cricket match in M Chinnaswamy stadium in Bengaluru on Saturday 03rd May 2025.

Kolkata: Indian batsman Venkatesh Iyer plays a shot during their 3rd and final Twenty20 cricket match of the series against New Zealand at Eden Garden in Kolkata Sunday Nov. 21 2021.

Highlights - I thought the senior player group were amazing in the lead up to those crucial games. Their confidence shone through their influence on the people around them I think was really positive. Strong and confident.  Andy Flower, Head Coach