RCB mid-season assessment: Can No.18’s dream finally become a reality in the 18th season?

Bengaluru: RCB’s J Hazelwood and Virat Kohli rejoice the wicket of PBKS batter Shreyas Iyer throughout the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 cricket match between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Punjab Kings at M Chinnaswamy Stadium, in Bengaluru, Karnataka. (PTI Photo/Shailendra Bhojak) *** Local Caption ***

The Royal Challengers Bengaluru are sitting in the high 4 after the mid-season of this 12 months’s IPL with 4 wins in 7 video games up to now. They’ve had a fairly good begin to their marketing campaign and would look to proceed this momentum.

Hits
The jersey No.18, Virat Kohli, has been their greatest batter of the season, scoring 249 runs with a mean of 49.80 and a strike charge of 141.49. Apart from him, his opening companion Phil Salt has additionally supplied explosive begins, having made 212 runs with a mean of 30.28 and a strike charge of 182.75. Tim David has chipped in with good cameos decrease down the order. In the bowling division, Josh Hazlewood has been their standout performer with 12 wickets at a mean of 16.91 and an economic system of 8.17 in the 7 video games up to now. Apart from him, each Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Krunal Pandya have taken 8 wickets every, whereas Yash Dayal additionally has 7 wickets to his title.

Misses
The greatest concern for RCB this season has been their center order. The likes of Liam Livingstone, Jitesh Sharma, and Krunal Pandya have been far too inconsistent with the bat. While captain Rajat Patidar has gathered 209 runs, RCB would nonetheless anticipate a bit extra from him. Their fifth bowling possibility, that includes Suyash Sharma and Liam Livingstone, hasn’t made a lot affect up to now and has been a weak hyperlink.
Playoff Chances
RCB has a superb likelihood of qualifying for the playoffs as they only want to duplicate the similar efficiency and win 4 out of the subsequent 7 video games to safe a spot. But the actual query stays — can RCB finally win the 18th season and fulfill the long-standing dream of jersey No.18 and the followers?