RCB's Strategic Loss: Fans Divided Over IPL 2026 Performance

Royal Challengers Bengaluru faced a defeat against Sunrisers Hyderabad in their last league match but secured a top-two finish in IPL 2026. While some fans criticized RCB's cautious approach during the chase, others supported the strategy to protect their playoff position. With an upcoming match against Gujarat Titans in Qualifier 1, the team's performance and fan reactions continue to generate buzz. Read on for more insights into RCB's journey this season.

By Narendra Chaudhary May 23, 2026, 09:01 IST

RCB's Last League Match Against SRH

In their final league match, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) faced a defeat against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), yet they secured a top-two finish by winning nine out of their 15 matches. Chasing a daunting target of 256 runs, RCB managed to score 200-4 in their allotted 20 overs, ultimately losing by 55 runs. Although such high scores have been chased successfully in previous IPL seasons, RCB opted for a cautious strategy, prioritizing their top-two position.

This decision, however, left some fans feeling dissatisfied, believing RCB should have pursued the win more aggressively. Others argued that a conservative approach was wise; had RCB attempted to chase and failed, they risked losing their advantageous playoff position, which allows them another chance to reach the finals if they lose in the playoffs.

RCB began their chase positively, scoring 75 runs in the powerplay while losing two wickets. Venkatesh Iyer led the charge with a quick 44 runs off just 19 balls. In contrast, Virat Kohli struggled, contributing only 15 runs before being dismissed by Sakib Hussain. Kohli's wicket prompted RCB to adopt a more defensive strategy, focusing on wicket preservation rather than an aggressive chase. Rajat Patidar and Krunal Pandya managed to put together 84 runs off 57 balls, but with such a high target, a run rate of eight was insufficient.

Upcoming Match: RCB vs GT

Looking ahead, RCB is set to compete against the Gujarat Titans in Qualifier 1. The Titans also performed well during the league stage, winning nine out of 14 matches. SRH narrowly missed out on a top-two finish, matching the points of GT and RCB but falling short on run rate. The Qualifier 1 match is scheduled to take place in Dharamsala on May 26.