Royal Challengers Bengaluru: a top-order with three strike finishes
One title in 2025 ended a sixteen-year wait. The desk tracks the Kohli-Faf pivot, the Cameron Green allrounder role and the back-of-hand wrist spin.
Last-five form: W W W L W
RCB have won four of the last five. Their chase success rate has climbed to 73% - the second-best in the league behind CSK. The bowling economy has tightened to 8.4; the powerplay scoring rate has climbed to 9.7 runs per over.
Squad watch
Virat Kohli's role has shifted to a middle-overs anchor. With Faf du Plessis opening and Rajat Patidar at three, Kohli is the fourth batter for the first time since 2014. His strike rate against spin in overs 8-14 has been the team-leading metric.
Cameron Green's allrounder role is the X-factor. Used at three on flat decks and at five against spin, his seamers in the powerplay have cut the early-over runs significantly. Will Jacks is the part-time off-break option.
Next three fixtures
vs Mumbai Indians (away), vs Rajasthan Royals (home), vs Delhi Capitals (away). The RR game is the swing - Yashasvi Jaiswal's left-handed angle at the top can force an early allrounder tweak.
Depth chart
Opening: Faf, Jacks. Middle: Patidar, Kohli, Green, Lomror. Pace: Yash Dayal, Siraj, Vyshak, Topley. Spin: Karn Sharma, Swapnil Singh. The bench has a thin Indian seam backup; expect the trade window to look at that role.
Editor's note
RCB's ceiling is the Kohli-Rajat-Patidar middle overs yielding 50 in 30 balls against spin. Their floor is Faf missing the new ball when the seam movement on offer is at its peak. The desk will publish the next-match expected XI 90 minutes before toss.
