BuzzFix: Can RCB Really Win IPL 2024? Loyal Virat Kohli Fans Want to Know

Will Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) ever lift a cup? It’s a question that echoes in the minds and hearts of every RCB fan as the IPL season unfolds each year, and this year is no exception. With a patience that rivals no other fan base, RCB supporters yearn for that one elusive moment of magic, that flicker of hope that seems to slip through their fingers year after year. Every season brings renewed dedication and loyalty from the fans, “hoping against hope” for that breakthrough performance.

Now, more than ever, it’s time for Faf du Plessis, Virat Kohli, and the rest of the team to rise to the occasion.

But is the team living up to expectations? Languishing at the bottom (eighth place as of writing this), with just one win out of four matches, the signs aren’t promising. To add insult to injury, RCB’s once-famous record for the highest IPL team score of 263 has been shattered not once, but twice in the 2024 season, courtesy of SRH’s 277 and KKR’s 272.

So, what more do the disillusioned fans need to hear?

While we don’t intend to dampen spirits further, it’s essential to confront the facts rather than cling to false hope. Rest assured, we’re all in this together.

Virat Kohli is RCB’s Lone Warrior

It’s no exaggeration to say that Kohli is the glue holding RCB together. While he may no longer be the captain, he remains the shining star that fans pin their hopes on every single time. And understandably so.

And Kohli is doing his utmost to deliver – leading the run charts and serving as the only consistent performer for RCB with 203 runs in four matches at an impressive average of 67.66, including two half-centuries. Currently sporting the Orange Cap (subject to change), Kohli has smashed the most fours (17) and sixes (8) in the 2024 season thus far.

But when the consensus is that Kohli embodies RCB, it’s crucial to remember that RCB is more than just Kohli. It’s a collective effort, requiring all eleven players on the field to nurture and protect the team’s growth, much like tending to a lone flower blooming in a garden. However, when players falter in both batting and bowling, one must question the strength of the foundation. Is the soil truly fertile enough to sustain the flourishing of the team, or are there underlying issues that need to be addressed? The problem is, indeed, serious.

RCB’s Top Order Fails to Deliver

Ironically, RCB’s top order comprising du Plessis, Glenn Maxwell, Rajat Patidar, and Cameron Green has remained consistently inconsistent. Their three-match averages and strike rates tell a dismal tale—du Plessis (46 runs at 15.33 average and 127.77 SR), Maxwell (31 runs, average 10.33 and 124 SR); Green (54 runs, Average 18 and SR 112.5) and Patidar (21 runs, Average 7 and SR 84).

For this, RCB may need to shake things up in their top-order batting to inject much-needed dynamism. The lower order, led by Dinesh Karthik (86 runs in 3 innings) and Anuj Rawat (62 runs in 3 innings), has shown resilience, enabling the team to last their full quota of overs in the last three outings.

As per Hyderabad head coach Tom Moody made an astute observation on ESPNcricinfo, he aptly pointed out Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s poor performance this season, stating, “They’ve only got one batter in form, that’s Virat Kohli. Faf, Green, Maxwell, and Patidar haven’t found their feet yet and they don’t know what their best lineup and batting order is, which is also disruptive in any team environment.”

It’s a glaring reality that despite boasting some of the biggest names in T20 cricket, RCB lacks players willing to step up in pressure situations. This sentiment was echoed by Ambati Rayudu, a six-time IPL title winner, who didn’t mince words and expressed his views on the Star Sports show ‘Cricket Live’: “Look who bats in the pressure situations for them? Young Indian batters and Dinesh Karthik. Your big-name players are international players who are supposed to take pressure. Where are they? Are all in the dressing room. This has been happening for over 16 years for this team.”

Also Read: RCB Won Trophy? Viral Video of Kohli and Team Posing for Winning Pic Has Fans in ‘Virtual’ Delight

Bowlers Falling Short

When your top bowler, Yash Dayal, has only managed three wickets in as many matches, it raises questions about the team’s overall strength. Mohammed Siraj, the pace spearhead, has only claimed two wickets in 11 overs, conceding runs at a rate of 10 per over. Alzarri Joseph’s dismal performance, with just one wicket in three matches and an economy of 11.89, only adds to the team’s woes.

Even the spin unit, led by Maxwell, has failed to provide the spark needed to lift the team’s spirits. Unfortunately, there aren’t many alternatives available to tweak the lineup and find a winning combination.

Unimpressive Results

With every aspect of their game faltering, RCB’s recent defeat dealt a significant blow to the team’s morale. As they suffered their first home defeat in the 2024 IPL season, it was evident that the results reflected the struggles across all areas of play.

This is the harsh reality reflected in the statistics and performances, certainly not what any RCB fan would want to hear willingly.

Every RCB Fan Right Now

True, disappointment has become a familiar companion for RCB fans, yet amidst the frustration, there lingers a glimmer of hope. After all, they say fortune favours the bold, and perhaps, it’s just a matter of time before luck turns in their favour.

Indeed, despite reaching the final in 2009, 2011, and 2016, the IPL trophy has remained elusive for the Challengers. Yet, this year, the winds of change seem to be blowing. After all, hope is a resilient force, and it soared even higher when the RCB jinx was finally shattered in the Women’s Premier League.

Led by Smriti Mandhana, RCB triumphed over Delhi Capitals in the WPL final, clinching their first title in just the second season. This achievement has only intensified the expectations of RCB fans, who fervently desire to see du Plessis and his team break the title drought this year.

As we’ve witnessed, 2024 has been a year packed with unexpected twists and turns. So, let’s stay tuned to see if there’s yet another surprise waiting in the wings for RCB fans. Miracles do happen.

The tide can turn at any moment, and who knows when du Plessis’s hilarious slip up of “Ee Sala Cup Nahi” will turn into the triumphant cry of “Ee Sala Cup Namdu.”