The 2024 IPL season seemed destined to be another forgettable one for Royal Challengers Bangalore. After eight matches, they had just one win under their belt, and critics were having a field day. Virat Kohli was slammed for his lack of intent, and Andy Flower's auction strategy was questioned. RCB's playoff chances? A dismal 1%.

But here we are today, with RCB about to face Rajasthan Royals in the Eliminator, boasting six straight wins. How did this happen? It wasn't just about the wins; it all started a game earlier against the dominant Kolkata Knight Riders.

In that pivotal match, Andy Flower made some bold decisions: sticking with Will Jacks over star player Glenn Maxwell, backing Rajat Patidar, and relying on Lockie Ferguson as the overseas pacer. They lost by just one run, but something changed. The team found a spark and was just beginning its journey in defying the odds.
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From that point on, RCB's batting was electrifying. Virat Kohli's strike rate jumped from 147.34 in the first seven matches to 165.23 in the next seven, showing he could take on spin with ease. Rajat Patidar became the hero, smashing four fifties at a strike rate over 200. The team’s boundary-hitting improved drastically: they went from 109 fours and 65 sixes to 107 fours and an incredible 92 sixes. Will Jacks had his moments too, with a sensational 42-ball century against Rashid Khan and Noor Ahmad.

The bowlers also stepped up. Mohammed Siraj and Yash Dayal had combined for just nine wickets at the halfway mark. In the last seven matches, Siraj grabbed nine wickets with the new ball, and Dayal picked up ten. Cameron Green added seven wickets, and Lockie Ferguson's pace was a game-changer, complimenting the rest of the bowling perfectly.

RCB’s spin bowling was also a concern in the first half of the season. But they found an unlikely duo in Karn Sharma and Swapnil Singh, who has shown patches of brilliance with bat and ball for RCB. In the IPL this season, Swapnil has picked up six wickets with an economy of 8.76, which given the context of this season, is pretty commendable.
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Faf du Plessis and co take on Rajasthan Royals in the Eliminator on Wednesday and with momentum on their side, RCB will be fancying their chances of a seventh win. Could this finally be the year RCB wins their first IPL trophy? Only time will tell.

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