Nearly a month has gone by in IPL 2024. It was only like yesterday that we had Chennai Super Kings beat Royal Challengers Bangalore in the opening fixture. But what really happened again was RCB losing, this time to the Sunrisers of Hyderabad.

RCB are at the bottom of the table with just one win to their credit. Familiar bowling woes have crept up again but this time, it looks like their season is truly done and dusted before the halfway mark of IPL 2024. 

But what has actually gone wrong? Here’s some insight into why RCB have slipped into oblivion.
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The Cam Green Conundrum

RCB were in a decent spot ahead of the IPL auctions. Their batting was in good shape as always and all they needed were a couple of gun bowlers. Instead, they went ahead and traded for Cameron Green. This disturbed the balance of the side and even worse, Green hasn’t done anything of note yet. He had neither been used as a frontline bowler nor as a top order batter, hurting his stocks in the Sixer Market. It ain’t easy in the IPL, is it?

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Bowling Woes Are Back!

For a couple of seasons under Mike Hesson, RCB were solid with the ball. Wanindu Hasaranga and Josh Hazlewood dazzled while Mohammed Siraj was slowly becoming the bowler RCB thought he would become. Fast forward to yesterday’s match, none of them were part of the playing XI. While Hasaranga and Hazlewood aren’t available in the IPL, Siraj’s form has been so woeful that he got the sack. Even new signings haven’t hit the mark with Alzarri Joseph and Yash Dayal seeing their stocks drop by nearly 50%. In addition, they don’t have a frontline spinner with Glenn Maxwell being asked to bowl four overs consistently. Not the sight you’d want if you are an RCB fan by any means.

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The challenges faced by RCB and their bowling attack in particular are substantial. The season’s not done yet and RCB might still have a lot to play for. For starters, RCB could hand an opportunity to youngsters and build towards the next cycle. Only time will tell if RCB can salvage some lost pride.

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