IPL 2025: RCB Feeling Anything But at Home.. At Home!
Suffers its third consecutive loss at Chinnaswamy in IPL 2025
Going into last night's rain-curtailed match at Chinnaswamy, the Bengaluru franchise had played 94 games at the iconic venue.
And its record there was less than impressive --- it had won 44 and lost 46, with four matches ending with no result.
After last night against PBKS, the numbers didn't get any better. One more was notched up in the loss column.
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This season, RCB has all its three matches played at Chinnaswamy. All batting first. The defeats have come against Gujarat Titans, Delhi Capitals and PBKS.
Interestingly, and sobering for RCB, all the losses were masterminded by players who had some Bengaluru connection. GT's win was spearheaded by Mohd Siraj, a former RCB veteran, and local boy Prasidh Krishna. DC put it past Bengaluru through a fine innings by KL Rahul, who made a dramatic gesture at the end, signalling that Chinnaswamy was his fief.
And yesterday, it was Yuzvendra Chahal, the man who has the most wickets at Chinnaswamy in IPL (54).
Historically, RCB has found defending totals at the Bengaluru stadium difficult. Its overall win-loss ratio reflects a lack of consistency. Factors such as dew, short boundaries, and a batting-friendly pitch have often turned the venue into a paradise for chasing teams. Pointedly, RCB had batted first in all its three matches here this season.
The fact that it has failed to put competitive totals batting first has made things worse. Against PBKS, RCB managed only 95/9 in 14 overs, a total that was comfortably chased down by the visitors. This poor showing contrasts sharply with their performance on the road, where it has won all four matches this season.
Several issues contribute to RCB's struggles at home. Its bowling attack has often lacked the firepower to contain opposition batters, particularly in the death overs. This season, it has a decent bowling lineup led by Josh Hazlewood and Bhuvneshwar Kumar. But the team has struggled to maintain consistency and execute plans under pressure. Additionally, RCB's batting lineup seems over-reliant on top-order players like Virat Kohli and Phil Salt leaving the middle order exposed.
The Chinnaswamy pitch itself has undergone changes over the years, with curators attempting to balance conditions for batters and bowlers. But RCB has to adapt and find a formula that works in its own backyard. Unless it gets this part right, it can't mount a serious campaign for the title.
Clarity, like charity, should begin at home. This is the message for RCB.
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