Royal Challengers Bengaluru kicked off their title-retention campaign in emphatic style, showing real authority at the crease and tightening the screws with the ball during the early stretch of the season. Yet the signs of a slowdown have become harder to ignore in recent outings. In their last five matches, they have suffered defeats in three, and Thursday’s setback against the bottom-placed Lucknow Super Giants added another blow at the wrong time—one that also denied them a chance to move to the summit of the points table.
What has worried RCB most is not just the results, but the way they have been playing in key phases. The edge, sharpness and ruthless decision-making that powered their early wins have largely disappeared when it matters—whether it’s the batting in pressure overs or the bowling spells that usually flip games in their favour. Even their fielding, which had stood out as one of the most reliable parts of their start to the tournament, has slipped. Costly missteps and missed opportunities have allowed opponents to wrest back momentum at critical points, turning what should have been controlled contests into harder battles.
The loss to LSG proved a significant jolt for Bengaluru’s playoff hopes. With the defeat, RCB now need to win at least two of their remaining four matches to keep their spot in the postseason within reach. After the game, former captain Virat Kohli tried to reset the group’s mindset, delivering an intense message from within the dressing room. He pointed back to what worked earlier in the season—an environment of confidence and intensity that helped the side register six wins—and urged the team to bring that same energy back onto the field.
Kohli’s message, shared by RCB on X in a video from the dressing room, focused on the importance of enjoyment and freedom in performance. He said that the reason they had strung together those earlier victories was because they were playing with pleasure and only paying attention to maintaining their own standards, rather than being distracted by what the opposition might do. He also stressed that the next game should be approached with “absolute enjoyment and excitement,” making it clear that the goal is to return to their best form regardless of the jersey colour on the other side.
While Kohli pushed for a quick mental turnaround, he himself had a tough day in Lucknow’s chase of 213. He was dismissed for a duck after facing a standout delivery from Prince Yadav—one of those rare off-days that can feel unusually sharp in a high-scoring chase. The wicket was not accidental; Prince set it up with precision. First, he bowled one that moved away from Kohli, forcing him to remain cautious and watchful outside the off-stump line. Then, on the very next ball, he brought the ball back sharply into the batter, completely deceiving Kohli and ending the innings before it could begin.
Kohli appeared visibly stunned immediately after losing his wicket. He stayed at the crease for a few seconds in disbelief before eventually walking back to the pavilion, as the early wobble underlined how Bengaluru’s recent lack of cutting edge has been showing up even in their batting performances.
