High-flying Royal Challengers feel at home in unfamiliar conditions

Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s title-winning run successful IPL 2025 was defined by its distant form. RCB became the archetypal squad successful IPL past to triumph each 7 distant league matches, signaling victories astatine Kolkata, Chennai, Mumbai, Jaipur, New Chandigarh, New Delhi and Lucknow. That consistency crossed varied conditions proved cardinal to its tally to the title, culminating successful a six-run triumph implicit Punjab Kings successful the last astatine Ahmedabad that ended an 18-year agelong wait.

The question entering IPL 2026 was whether that distant occurrence was a one-season wonder.

With 2 matches remaining successful the league phase, Royal Challengers beryllium atop the array with 16 points, having erstwhile again relied heavy connected performances distant from the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium.

Unlike past season, the broadside has managed victories successful lone 2 of its archetypal 5 distant fixtures this year, though its adaptability extracurricular Bengaluru continues to stay cardinal to its campaign. Rajat Patidar’s men person won some their games astatine their 2nd location venue Raipur.

Virat Kohli’s unbeaten 105 against Kolkata Knight Riders astatine Raipur besides carried a important idiosyncratic milestone. The innings took him past 14,000 runs successful T20 cricket. Kohli became the fastest batter to scope the mark, getting determination successful 409 innings and surpassing the erstwhile grounds held by Chris Gayle (423).

Terrific record

Of those runs, 4,188 person travel successful T20 Internationals for the Men successful Blue, portion 9,145 person been scored successful the IPL for Royal Challengers crossed astir 2 decades with the franchise. He besides became the archetypal Indian batter to transverse the 14,000-run people successful the format, underlining a vocation built arsenic overmuch connected consistency and longevity arsenic connected strokeplay and run-scoring volume.

Royal Challengers look Punjab Kings astatine Dharamshala connected Sunday with a playoff berth astir secured and different beardown distant show perchance decisive successful shaping its way done the knockout stage.

Ability to adapt

The side’s quality to accommodate rapidly to unfamiliar conditions has progressively go 1 of its defining characteristics crossed the past 2 IPL seasons.

That consistency has erstwhile again placed the franchise among the tournament’s strongest playoff contenders.