Although Virat Kohli, Rajat Patidar, and Will Jacks are receiving all the credit for spearheading Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s incredible comeback in IPL 2024, the bowlers’ role in the team’s comeback is equally deserving. Following their miserable performance with the ball in the first half of the season, RCB’s bowling unit were written off, but they showed incredible bravery and belief to turn around their rapidly fading fortunes.

In the first 8 games, the Royal Challengers could only collect 1 win. They were in serious trouble. They were following the same pattern once more this season, with a top-heavy batting lineup that produced regular hits but was unable to balance with their lackluster bowling unit.

Mohammed Siraj was the Royal Challengers’ biggest flop with the ball during this period. Siraj, who was among the best with the new ball last season, had totally lost his rhythm and self-assurance this year. In 13 overs during the powerplay, he only managed to claim two wickets and was thoroughly outclassed, giving up 11 runs per over.

Alzarri Joseph, who was brought in as a death overs specialist, was also hammered. The team lacked a quality spinner who could dominate batters in the middle overs, a role Yuzvendra Chahal was assigned over the years.

But in their game against Sunrisers Hyderabad, Royal Challengers Bengaluru bowled with intent with Will Jacks and Swapnil Singh shining with the ball. RCB defeated SRH in their own backyard by 35 runs. The victory over Hyderabad ignited a fire in the RCB bowling unit. It bolstered their confidence. It set off a domino effect that improved their bowling unit’s overall performance.

The Bengaluru bowling unit has undergone significant change, as evidenced by their performance in the powerplay over the past five games. No team has taken more wickets than RCB, who have 14 in the opening six overs. Surprisingly, with an economy rate of 8.5, just slightly higher than that of SRH (8.3) and CSK (8.4), the RCB bowlers are also among the most effective during the early overs.

In their last five games, RCB has taken 41 wickets against opponents, which is more than any other team in the tournament during this period. Their strike rate of 14 puts them in the top two, and their bowling average of 20.5 is the best as well.

Their economy rate dropped from 10.8 in the first eight games to just 8.8 in the final five, which is the second-best rate behind CSK. The bowlers conceded a boundary in every 4.1 balls and are presently giving a boundary in every 5.1 deliveries.

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