- 17 Apr, 2026
Why Royal Challengers Bengaluru can defend their IPL title?
RCB is back. After winning their FIRST IPL title in 2025 after 17 years of waiting, they are now trying to DEFEND it in IPL 2026. Can they do it? Will they join Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings as teams who won back-to-back titles? Many experts say YES. Even Ravichandran Ashwin said RCB can win ANOTHER title in the next 2 years. Let me tell you why.
What Ashwin Said About RCB?
Ravichandran Ashwin (one of India’s smartest cricketers) said on his YouTube channel:
“RCB can add another title in the next two years with this squad. Winning the IPL is not easy, but the building blocks they have, the kind of like-for-like replacements they have. The way they have addressed the holes in the combination. This is a good package to finish in the top two.”
That’s HUGE praise. Ashwin is not someone who says nice things for no reason. He MEANS it.
📍Ahmedabad | #Watch: Narendra Modi Stadium lights up as Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) win their first-ever IPL title #IPL2025 #RCB pic.twitter.com/cB470efX9Y
— NDTV (@ndtv) June 3, 2025
Why RCB Can Win Again? Let Me Tell You.
1. The Monkey is OFF Virat Kohli's Back.
Virat Kohli played for RCB for 17 years without winning a title. Now he FINALLY won in 2025. He told his teammates: “It is only going to get tougher because other teams are going to come hard at us.”
But he also said: “We do not waste these days. We stay ahead. So switch on now. We must give our 120 percent for these two and a half months.”
Virat scored 600+ runs in each of the last 3 IPL seasons. He is AGING LIKE FINE WINE. Now with trophy pressure gone, he can just PLAY and SCORE.
2. EXPLOSIVE Batting Lineup.
RCB’s batting is SCARY good on paper :
That’s SEVEN batters with a strike rate above 140. Even the “slowest” batter in this list (Patidar 143) is faster than many teams’ best hitters.
| Player | Role | IPL 2025 Strike Rate |
| Virat Kohli | Opener | 144.71 |
| Phil Salt | Opener | 175.98 |
| Devdutt Padikkal | No.3 | 150.61 |
| Rajat Patidar | No.4 | 143.78 |
| Jitesh Sharma | WK | 176.35 |
| Tim David | Finisher | 185.15 |
| Romario Shepherd | Finisher | 291.67 (CRAZY) |
3. Devdutt Padikkal is BACK in FORM.
Padikkal had a MONSTER domestic season.
Ranji Trophy: 543 runs in 6 matches, including 232 against Uttarakhand.
Vijay Hazare Trophy: 725 runs at an average of 90.62 – SECOND highest run-getter.
Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy: 309 runs at a strike rate of 167.02.
He is coming to the IPL with confidence. Remember, he played for RCB in 2020-2021 and scored 473 runs. Now he’s back home.
4. Venkatesh Iyer Joins RCB. New All-Round Option.
RCB bought Venkatesh Iyer for Rs 7 crore in a mini-auction. He can:
Bat at No. 3 or No. 4
Bowl medium pace (which RCB needs.)
Brings a left-handed option in the top order
In 2024, he scored 370 runs at a strike rate of 158 for KKR. In 2025, he struggled with price tag pressure. Now in the NEW team, he can play FREE.
5. Jacob Bethell – England's NEW STAR.
Jacob Bethell is 22 years old from England. In the T20 World Cup 2026, he scored 280 runs in 8 innings at a strike rate of 150+. He scored 48-ball 105 against INDIA in the semi-final. That’s a BIG match player.
Ashwin said: “If RCB don’t have Hazlewood and they are concerned about Salt’s form, they can play both Salt and Bethell. That is a serious top four overseas combination.”
📍Ahmedabad | #Watch: Narendra Modi Stadium lights up as Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) win their first-ever IPL title #IPL2025 #RCB pic.twitter.com/cB470efX9Y
— NDTV (@ndtv) June 3, 2025
The Business of IPL | Billion‑Dollar Deals Rewrite Valuations
— CNBC-TV18 (@CNBCTV18News) March 25, 2026
* Rajasthan Royals sold for $1.63 bn to a Kal Somani–led consortium backed by the Walmart & Ford family offices
* RCB sold for $1.78 bn to a consortium including the Aditya Birla Group, Sayan Gajwani, David Blitzer’s… pic.twitter.com/zAV5X117j7
6. Title-Winning CORE RETAINED.
RCB kept their CHAMPIONS from 2025 :
- Virat Kohli
- Rajat Patidar (captain)
- Yash Dayal
- Phil Salt
- Josh Hazlewood
- Bhuvneshwar Kumar
- Krunal Pandya
- Tim David
They only released Liam Livingstone, Lungi Ngidi, and Mayank Agarwal. That’s a MINIMAL change. Team chemistry is already there.
7. Ashwin's "BLESSING IN DISGUISE" Comment
Josh Hazlewood (RCB’s best bowler) is injured and will miss the early matches. This is BAD, right?
But Ashwin said, “In all honesty, this is a blessing in disguise for RCB.”
WHY? Because RCB can try different combinations early. When Hazlewood returns, they will know exactly who is best in which role. Smart thinking.
8. RCB Can Create HISTORY.
If RCB wins IPL 2026, they will become ONLY THIRD team to win back-to-back titles.
Chennai Super Kings: 2010, 2011
Mumbai Indians: 2019, 2020
RCB: 2025, 2026?
That’s ELITE company. Ashwin believes they can do it.
What Are the Weaknesses?
Not everything is perfect. RCB has problems:
Problem 1: Josh Hazlewood INJURED.
He took 22 wickets in IPL 2025 – MOST for RCB
He will MISS first few matches
Without him, bowling looks WEAK
Problem 2: Phil Salt’s BAD Form
In T20 World Cup: only 130 runs in 8 innings at average 16
RCB’s opener is OUT of form
Problem 3: Captain Rajat Patidar RUSTY
In SMAT: 113 runs in 7 innings at average 16
In VHT: 67 runs in 2 innings
He needs to FIND from FAST.
Problem 4: Bowling Lacks DEPTH
Bhuvneshwar Kumar is only RELIABLE pacer (with Hazlewood out)
Yash Dayal, Jacob Duffy, Nuwan Thushara are UNTESTED
Krunal Pandya and Suyash Sharma are spinners – but can they take wickets?
But… They CAN Still Win.
Even with these problems, RCB can DEFEND the title because:
- Batting is DEEP – 7 match-winners
- Venkatesh Iyer can BOWL pace
- Jacob Bethell can be a GAME-CHANGER
- They won as UNDERDOGS in 2025 – now they are CHAMPIONS with confidence.
- Virat Kohli’s MOTIVATION is sky-high.
Virat's Message to Team
Before the season started, Virat told everyone:
“We worked really hard over the last two to three seasons to achieve what we did last year, and it is only going to get tougher because other teams are going to come hard at us.”
But he also said: “We must give our 120 per cent for these two and a half months.”
That’s the ATTITUDE of champions. They know it’s hard, but they are READY.
My Thoughts
You know what I think? RCB can TOTALLY defend their title. They have:
Experience – Kohli, Bhuvi, Krunal
Young Energy – Bethell, Padikkal, Iyer
Finishing Power – Tim David, Shepherd
Captain – Rajat Patidar (calm under pressure)
Coach – Andy Flower (one of the best in the world.)
Yes, Hazlewood injury is a BIG problem. Yes, the salt form is WORRY. But RCB has DEPTH. They can find solutions.
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