RCB Unbeaten in IPL 2026 — Why Kohli's Form + Bowling Depth Make Them Title Favourites

RCB have won all 3 games and lead IPL 2026. Virat Kohli averaging 74 with the bat. Analysis of why RCB are different this season — bowling attack, player retention strategy and title chances.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru have won their first three games of IPL 2026 — beats against SRH, PBKS and a dominant performance in between. Virat Kohli is averaging 74 with a strike rate of 152, Josh Hazlewood and Jacob Duffy have formed the most economical new-ball partnership in the tournament. The difference from previous RCB seasons is not just Kohli's form — it is the bowling depth. For the first time in years, RCB have genuine variety: pace (Hazlewood, Duffy), spin (Shahbaz Ahmed, Krunal Pandya) and a death bowler (Yash Dayal who is bowling sub-8 in the last 4 overs).

Their retention strategy paid off: keeping Kohli, Rajat Patidar, Shahbaz Ahmed and Mohammed Siraj gave them a core that knows how to win together. The new overseas additions — Tim David and Jacob Duffy — have slotted in immediately. Faf du Plessis is scoring at the top alongside Kohli and the two have put up 90+ partnerships in two of three games.

RCB have been runners-up 3 times but have never won the IPL title. Their record in knock-out stages has historically been their weakness — great league stage performance followed by a single bad game. The 2026 squad addresses some of those concerns: their bowling is more reliable than in previous title challenges and Kohli at his best is arguably the tournament's most clutch performer.

Next game: DC vs RCB on April 5 at Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi. RCB have a poor record in Delhi — the pitch and conditions historically favour the home side. This will be the first real test of whether this RCB team can win away from Chinnaswamy. Kohli's record at Feroz Shah Kotla is excellent personally but RCB as a team have lost 4 of their last 5 there. Watch this game closely — it tells you everything about whether RCB's 2026 run is real or a home-conditions illusion.