Royal Challengers Bengaluru may look relatively secure in the race for the playoffs, but with the IPL 2026 standings expected to stay tightly packed, the franchise cannot afford to slip into comfort mode. After RCB’s victory over Mumbai Indians in Raipur this weekend, former India fast bowler Zaheer Khan believes the side should consider freshening up its XI, pointing to the fact that Bengaluru have relied on a narrow group of regulars so far in the campaign.
Key takeaways
- Zaheer Khan urged RCB to consider adding another pace option after their win over Mumbai Indians in Raipur.
- He suggested Jacob Duffy as a possible inclusion, citing Josh Hazlewood’s dip in form compared to his usual standards.
- Zaheer argued that the Raipur surface may offer uneven bounce and more assistance to fast bowlers, making a bowling tweak logical.
- He said the final decision could involve bringing in either an Indian pacer or an overseas seamer, depending on team balance.
- He indicated that changes might affect batting depth and could require players such as Romario Shepherd, Jacob Bethell, or Suyash Sharma to sit out.
Zaheer’s call for a tactical bowling boost
Speaking on Cricbuzz, Zaheer Khan specifically recommended that RCB explore the option of bringing in an additional fast bowler. His rationale was linked to the conditions seen in Raipur, where he believed the pitch could produce irregular bounce and offer more help for pace. In that context, he felt Bengaluru could benefit from a like-for-like addition to their pace attack.
Zaheer also framed the suggestion around form and suitability. With Josh Hazlewood experiencing a quiet stretch for him, he said a return could be considered for Jacob Duffy. Duffy, in his view, would add depth and provide support to both the Australian seamer and Bhuvneshwar Kumar, strengthening RCB’s bowling unit for the challenges ahead.
“The way that the Raipur pitch played, there might some uneven bounce, there might be more help for fast bowlers there. So, they can think of a change,” Zaheer said. He added that the franchise still has to decide whether it wants an Indian pacer or an overseas option. If RCB chooses a foreign seamer, the bowling combination would look different, but he believed the adjustment would not be problematic.
Who could make way as options open up
RCB do have domestic pace resources available. Abhinandan Singh has already featured earlier in the season, while Mangesh Yadav is a highly regarded prospect the side picked up at this year’s auction. However, Zaheer’s pathway for a squad alteration suggests that Bengaluru may also consider a different acquisition from that auction pool, with the possibility of rebalancing roles in the XI.
In the batting department, Zaheer pointed to Venkatesh Iyer as a player who can offer support to the team’s batting depth. At the same time, he suggested that if Duffy comes in as the extra seamer, then RCB might have to allow someone else to step aside—either from their current overseas bowling resources or from their domestic spin/bowling options, depending on how the team wants to structure its overs.
Zaheer highlighted Romario Shepherd and Jacob Bethell as the two overseas candidates who could potentially be impacted by such a move. “For that, you can either look towards Romario Shepherd or Jacob Bethell. If you can bring in a bowler like Jacob Duffy, then that improves your bowling a lot,” he explained. He then addressed the batting side of the equation, saying Venkatesh Iyer can be part of the plan from the bench.
With that in mind, Zaheer suggested Suyash Sharma and one of the overseas players might have to make way. He also questioned the current rhythm of Sharma, adding that his form has not been strong and that the pitch did not offer much assistance to him either. That assessment, in Zaheer’s view, makes it easier for the franchise to consider rotating roles rather than sticking blindly to the same personnel.
Why Bengaluru may be willing to tinker now
RCB are generally cautious about changing a settled setup if they can avoid it. But with the playoff race tightening—and the battle for the top two spots becoming increasingly competitive—Zaheer suggested this could be the right phase of the season to experiment with available options.
Whether the franchise will act on his advice remains the key question, especially with their next challenge coming against KKR in Raipur. Ultimately, it may come down to how much belief RCB have in the strength of their bench and how confidently they can translate squad rotation into match-winning balance.
