Something’s not right in Bengaluru. While Royal Challengers Bangalore have been unbeatable on the road this season, they have imploded at home.
In a rain-affected match that started on Friday and finished on Saturday, RCB suffered their third consecutive home defeat, this time to Punjab Kings, a game they should have won — and lost.
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RCB’s numbers are ridiculous. Four wins in four away games, zero wins in three home games. The M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, once a fortress, now feels like a millstone.
The pressure of home crowds, or something deeper — whatever it is, it’s affecting them big time.
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Reduced to 14 overs a side due to rain, RCB’s innings was a shambles. Phil Salt, Virat Kohli and Liam Livingstone all got out cheaply. Kohli, in particular, continues to struggle under home pressure, and it’s breaking fan hearts across the country.
Once again, the team relied on a lone bright spark — Tim David. His unbeaten 50 off 26 balls, including three sixes in the last over, gave RCB a fighting total of 95/9. But it was never going to be enough with that kind of top-order collapse.
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Punjab Kings didn’t exactly cruise to the target — they lost early wickets and looked shaky. But Nehal Wadhera’s composed 33 off 19 balls* sealed the win with 11 balls to spare.
RCB’s bowling was lacklustre, except for a good spell from Josh Hazlewood who took 3 wickets.
This isn’t just about one bad night — it’s a pattern. RCB are two different teams: clinical away, clueless at home.
Whether it’s the pitch, strategy or mental block, something needs to be fixed fast. With the tournament heating up, they can’t afford to keep dropping points at their own backyard.
If RCB want to be title contenders this year, they need to turn their home ground into an advantage — not a liability.
