IPL 2019: RCB suffer worst start to new season, but can they do what MI did in 2015?

Four matches, four defeats for the Virat Kohli-led Royal Challengers Bangalore as they fail to overcome fellow strugglers Rajasthan Royals at the Sawai Mansingh stadium in Jaipur on Tuesday. The fourth consecutive defeat of the season saw RCB get-off to their personal worst start in the history of the competition. While there are all the signs for worry, as far as the rest of the campaign is concerned, it should be noted that Mumbai Indians had also lost their first four games of 2015 season before going on to win the title.

Two close encounters – against MI and RR – and two heavy defeats – against CSK and SRH – see Kohli’s men scratching their heads once again as the wait for the maiden IPL title seems to be in an unending loop.

It, however, isn’t the worst start for a team in the IPL by any means, with Delhi Daredevils (now Delhi Capitals) (6), Deccan Chargers (5) and Mumbai Indians (5) being the three sides to have lost more than 4 of their first matches in a campaign. Here’s how the list goes:

6 – Delhi Daredevils (2013)
5 – Deccan Chargers (2012)
5 – Mumbai Indians (2014)
4 – Mumbai Indians (2008)
4 – Mumbai Indians (2015)
4 – Royal Challengers Bangalore (2019)

MI, who seem to have accustomed themselves to poor starts in a season, were victorious in the 2015 edition of the cash-rich franchise cricket league despite going winless in the first four matches. On two other occasions, where they suffered 4 and 5 straight defeats at the start of the campaign in 2008 and 2014 respectively, the team couldn’t go all the way.

With 10 games more to go in the season for the Royal Challengers, Kohli and Co would want to emulate the model MI opted for 4 years ago which saw Rohit Sharma’s army lift the title at the end. The task, however, is far more tricky than it presently seems, with many teams already looking at their best.

For the Bengaluru franchise, the task remains an even difficult one considering the number of players who have failed to live up to the expectations thus far. While the skipper would like to put in a better show with the bat, the middle-order, as well as the bowling set-up, has been far from being convincing.

Big-money signing Shimron Hetmyer has looked a shadow of himself in his debut IPL season while Moeen Ali has been a big disappointment, both with the bat and the ball. Tim Southee is one person who is capable of putting in match-winning performances and the New Zealander shouldn’t be far from his first appearance this season considering the way RCB are playing in his absence.