They are languishing at the bottom of the table with six losses from seven matches. It is the same old story season after season. While their batters have put in some decent performances in the 17th edition of the IPL, it is their bowlers who have again let them down. And big-time! The Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) have never won the most prestigious league in the world and for good reason. A top-heavy batting line-up with some all-time greats and other big overseas imports, has time and again neglected their bowling unit and suffered the consequences. It is the same script in 2024. In fact, their bowling has gone down by a few notches in this edition and RCB find themselves on the verge of playoff elimination this year. The RCB bowlers have a massive wicket-taking problem this season. They have, as a collective, bagged just 28 wickets in seven matches which is, by far, the lowest for any team in the tournament. Their average of 4 wickets per match is not only the lowest for any team this season but also their personal worst in any edition. RCB returned with 65 wickets in 14 matches in the inaugural season in 2008 which was, on an average, 4.6 wickets per innings – their previous worst returns per match in a season. The RCB bowlers have dislodged more than 5 opposition batters just once in the tournament (they took six wickets against Punjab Kings). RCB, as a bowling unit, also have the worst bowling average (49.8) and strike rate (27.9) this season. Just to give some perspective on how bad it has been for their bowlers this year, the second-worst team on this count – the Sunrisers Hyderabad – have a bowling average of 37.2! If the numbers hold it will again be the worst performance by RCB in terms of bowling average ever in a season. To add more salt to their wounds, RCB’s bowlers have been unable to control the flow of runs in the competition. Their combined economy rate of 10.7 is the worst for any team this year. If they do not see a reversal in trends in the second half of the tournament, then again 2024 could be the most expensive for their bowling unit. Their previous worst performance on this parameter was last season when they conceded at a rate of 9.3 per over. Abysmal performance in the powerplay The RCB bowlers have picked a total of just four wickets in seven innings in the powerplay this season – by far, the lowest for any team. To make matters worse, their bowlers have also been tonked around the park and have an economy of 10.5 in this phase of play – again the worst for any team in the first six overs. In fact, no other bowling unit has gone at above 10 per over in the tournament. The RCB bowlers have conceded a boundary every 3.7 deliveries in the powerplay which is the worst frequency for any team in the competition. The dramatic fall of Mohammed Siraj Mohammed Siraj was exceptional with the new ball in IPL 2023 returning with 10 wickets in 14 matches in 30 overs at an average of 17.8 and economy of 5.9. The Indian speedster has witnessed a dramatic reversal in fortunes this season. Siraj has picked just one solitary wicket in six innings in the powerplay in 2024. He has looked listless and been hammered for 123 runs in 10 overs in the first 6 overs. Siraj’s economy rate of 12.3 is the worst for any bowler (min. 5 overs) in this phase of play. Even more worrying is the number of boundaries he has conceded within the fielding restrictions. Siraj has been smashed for 10 fours and as many sixes and his balls per boundary ratio of 3 is the worst for any bowler in the powerplay.