What went wrong With RCB?
RCB Hits & Misses in TATA IPL 2023, what went wrong With RCB, Reasons Behind RCB ’s Failure this Season, What Royal Challengers Bangalore can improve for next Year, What happened to Royal Challengers Bangalore in TATA IPL 2023?
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The Royal Challengers Bangalore were the only side in the post-pandemic era to qualify for three straight playoffs. They were eyeing a fourth successive playoff entry this year. But the campaign didn’t go according to plan for RCB. They were in the running for the playoffs right until their last league match.
Many fans and experts even predicted that they would make it through. But it wasn’t meant to be. RCB stumbled in the final hurdle to finish sixth in the points table. It was again a case of so near yet so far for the side.
The pre-tournament expectations:
Rajat Patidar, RCB’s biggest domestic hope was ruled out of the entire tournament. It was a big setback for the side. RCB were overtly dependent on their star-studded trio of Virat Kohli, Faf du Plessis, and Glenn Maxwell. Kohli especially walked into the tournament in some form. Their consistency in the last 3 years signalled hope but the fans knew it was a steep mountain to climb for the side.
What were the hits for RCB?
The form of their big four
RCB in IPL 2023 returned to their ill-fated template of star-studded shows. The whole season was just about the prowess of their main four. Kohli, Faf, Maxwell, and Mohammad Siraj had a terrific season with each of them winning the side a game on their own. Faf led the batting charts in the league stage with 731 runs.
Kohli scored twin centuries while Maxwell struck big accumulating 400 runs. Siraj was devastating with the new ball. He was almost unplayable in the powerplay. These 4 almost took RCB to playoffs pretty much on their own.
What were the misses?
RCB had finished third in IPL 2022. It was their best season since 2016. A lot of things clicked for RCB last season. The coming-of-age of Rajat Patidar was the biggest highlight. Wanindu Hasaranga and Josh Hazlewood added a lot of muscle to the bowling department.
Dinesh Karthik had a terrific season as a finisher and Shahbaz Ahmed supported him wonderfully. But all it took was one season for the bubble to burst. All the positives of 2022 failed miserably in 2023 (Rajat Patidar was ruled out owing to injury). Unless and until, RCB find a way to fix their supporting act, they will continue to struggle in the league.
What’s in store for them next season?
RCB will keenly await the return of Rajat Patidar. He continues to remain their big Indian batting bet after Kohli. They immediately need to identify talent who could take over the mantle from their senior pros. RCB could also look at rejigging their coaching staff as the current personnel has had a fairly long run. The side needs to evolve with the ever-changing format else every year will continue to remain a piped dream.
