Royal Challengers Bengaluru will aim to reignite their batting form as they seek to halt a two-match losing skid and boost their play-off hopes when they face Mumbai Indians in Raipur on Sunday.
The defending champions began the season strongly, winning four of their first matches, but have since stumbled, losing three of their last five. Currently third in the table with 12 points from 10 games, RCB remain well placed for the knockout stage but have lost momentum at a critical phase.
Tied on points with Rajasthan Royals and Gujarat Titans, RCB could slip to fourth depending on Saturday’s result. Beyond the standings, their batting unit needs a revival. On a slow Ahmedabad track against Gujarat, the team could only manage 155, and a DLS defeat to Lucknow Super Giants was not as close as the score suggested—RCB needed 19 off the final over but fell short.
Now they face a formidable MI attack featuring Jasprit Bumrah, Corbin Bosch, AM Ghazanfar, and Will Jacks. Raipur, RCB’s designated home venue, presents an unknown pitch, demanding peak performance from the batters.
Jacob Bethell, who replaced the injured Phil Salt, has struggled with scores of 14, 20, 5, and 4 in four outings, leaving Virat Kohli to carry the load. Wicketkeeper-batter Jitesh Sharma has also underperformed, with a season-best of 23, weakening RCB’s late push.
Mumbai Indians, meanwhile, showed signs of resurgence by successfully chasing 228 against LSG. Rohit Sharma returned from injury with a blistering 84 off 44 balls. He and opener Ryan Rickelton must counter RCB’s new-ball pair of Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Josh Hazlewood. Captain Hardik Pandya missed the last game with back spasms but has traveled to Raipur; his fitness will be assessed before the match.
Historically, RCB and MI have met 37 times, with RCB winning 15 (including one Super Over), MI winning 21, and one no result. RCB’s highest score against MI is 235/1 (2015), while MI’s best is 213/6 (2018). In their most recent meeting on April 12, 2026, RCB won by 18 runs at the Wankhede.