IPL 2019: Here is how Virat Kohli-led RCB can still win title despite 4 losses in a row

Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) have lost all four matches played in this season of IPL. But, Virat Kohli and his men have it in them to bounce back and go all the way. They need to take inspiration from Mumbai Indians (MI)

IPL 2019 championship Virat Kohli-led RCB can still win title despite 4 losses

Team Newsable

Bengaluru, First Published Apr 4, 2019, 3:20 PM IST | Last Updated Apr 4, 2019, 3:20 PM IST

Bengaluru: Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) have been nothing but disappointment to their fans after defeats in their opening four matches so far in the Indian Premier League (IPL 2019).

But even after losing all four matches played so far, the Virat Kohli-led RCB still have the hopes of winning the cup.

Here is how.

When looking back at the history of IPL, even Delhi Daredevils (now known as Delhi Capitals, DC) had lost six matches in a row in 2013 at the start of the tournament and Deccan Chargers (now known as Sunrisers Hyderabad, SRH) had lost five consecutive matches in 2012.

By now, if you are thinking that RCB also should change its name, that is not the solution.

But consider the statistics of Mumbai Indians (MI) who had also lost five matches at the beginning of the season in 2014. However, they reached the play-offs. In 2015, MI had lost four straight matches at the start of the tournament but had clinched the title, defeating Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the final.

With the cash-rich Twenty20 tournament in its 12th year, RCB are yet to win the title. Fans are eagerly waiting for Kohli to lift the cup. Last year, they had started a campaign “Ee Sala Cup Namde” (this time cup is ours). But, that did not happen.

After four losses, RCB will now face Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in Bengaluru on Friday (April 5). Skipper Kohli had admitted that they are yet to find the right combination.

“The tournament isn’t so long, so you need to think on your feet on what the best 11s are. We will sit down and talk to see how we can balance our team and allow our players to create some match-winning performances,” Kohli had said after losing to Rajasthan Royals (RR).

"Our fourth loss in a row, but we have 10 games. And we have a chance of coming back. If we think negative, then no point playing. So we need to be positive,” Kohli added.

Worst starts by teams in IPL:

6 losses — Delhi Daredevils (2013)

5 — Deccan Chargers (2012)

5 — Mumbai Indians (2014

4 — Mumbai Indians (2008)

4 — Mumbai Indians (2015)

4 — Royal Challengers Bangalore* (2019)

* — Streak ongoing

Here is RCB’s four-match losing streak so far:

March 23: Lost to CSK by 7 wickets in Chennai

March 28: Lost to MI by 6 runs in Bengaluru

March 31: Lost to SRH by 118 runs in Hyderabad