IPL 2025: Will RCB’s death bowling hold up under Qualifier pressure?

Skipper Jitesh Sharma produced a sensational unbeaten 85 while Virat Kohli contributed a composed 54 as Royal Challengers Bengaluru clinched a thrilling six-wicket victory over Lucknow Super Giants on Tuesday. The result propelled RCB into second place on the points table, setting up a marquee clash with table-toppers Punjab Kings in Qualifier 1 on Thursday.

Chasing a daunting 228 in their final league fixture, Bengaluru showcased both flair and composure to become the first team in IPL history to win all seven of their away matches in a single season. This remarkable achievement also secured their first top-two finish since 2016. With Gujarat Titans dropping to third, they will now face Mumbai Indians in the eliminator, while the loser of Qualifier 1 will get another shot at the final in Qualifier 2.

Despite the momentum from their record-breaking chase, RCB enter the playoffs with two most important concerns they need to address to sustain their title ambitions.

Skipper Rajat Patidar began the season on a high, producing match-winning half-centuries against Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians. However, his recent dip in form has become a glaring issue. In his last eight outings, the right-hander has managed just 110 runs at an average of 13.75.

While Kohli and Salt continue to provide steady starts, the pressure on middle-order mainstays like Patidar has intensified. If RCB are to challenge Punjab’s in-form bowling unit, Patidar must rediscover his early-season rhythm and contribute meaningfully in the knockout stages.

Meanwhile, RCB’s bowling attack has been overly dependent on Australian pacer Josh Hazlewood, whose presence has consistently lifted the unit’s performance. The team’s bowling average stands at 26.22 when Hazlewood plays, compared to a worrying 48 in his absence. Similarly, the collective economy rate improves drastically from 11.15 to 8.79 with him in the lineup.

Jitesh Sharma confirmed that Hazlewood is expected to return for Qualifier 1. However, injury concerns persist, and RCB will need a unified bowling effort. The support cast must step up, as relying solely on Hazlewood in a high-pressure knockout match could backfire.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru squad: Virat Kohli, Rajat Patidar (c), Swastik Chikara, Jitesh Sharma, Philip Salt, Manoj Bhandage, Tim David, Krunal Pandya, Liam Livingstone, Romario Shepherd, Jacob Bethell, Swapnil Singh, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Josh Hazlewood, Nuwan Thushara, Yash Dayal, Rasikh Dar Salam, Suyash Sharma, Mohit Rathee, Abhinandan Singh, Mayank Agarawal, Blessing Muzarabani, Tim Seifert

This article first appeared on Mid Day