Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) is all set to face the challenge from Lucknow Super Giants (LSG). In the points table, if one team is located at the North Pole, the other is at the South Pole. Many changes are taking place in the points table in the second half of the group stage in IPL 2026. R
CB is well aware of all the changing scenarios and equations. They also know very well that if they keep winning games continuously then they will easily enter the play-offs. The team will need the collective efforts of its members to win each game.
Royal Challengers Bangalore are only focusing on their upcoming match.
“We can all see how the table is going, but we can’t get distracted by what’s happening with other teams. We can only focus on what we want to do, and the task at hand right now is the game against LSG tomorrow,” Rangarajan said in an RCB press release.
“We are always looking as a unit to see how we can improve and capitalize on the trends of the tournament. Our focus now is on this next game,” he said.
Among the batsmen, Virat Kohli, captain Rajat Patidar, Devdutt Padikkal and Phil Salt have played important roles so far in the current season. But the form of their wicketkeeper-batsman Jitesh Sharma is far from expectations and his own potential.
Jitesh Sharma hasn’t got his walking bat yet
The middle-order batsman, who played a key role in RCB winning their first trophy in 2025, has been struggling since the start of the IPL 2026 season. Ahead of the LSG vs RCB match, Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) assistant coach Malolan Rangarajan discussed the current scenario of the league and Jitesh Sharma’s poor form.
0, DNB, 5, 10, 23, 14, 10, DNB, 1: This is the report card of batsman Jitesh Sharma so far. Despite the player’s poor form, the management has confidence in him. RCB members are confident that Jitesh is well aware of his role in the team and hence he has been training at the nets as well.
Jitesh can impact the game for us: RCB
Malolan said about Jitesh Sharma, “Jitesh is a very sorted person. He knows it is no coincidence that he has played for the country and has been a part of the IPL team for so long. He played an integral role for us last year as well.”
“The message for Jitesh is that he is very aware of what he can do to help the team in any situation. That is what he is focusing on and we are trying to provide him in the training sessions, understanding what situations he is likely to go into and how he can impact the game for us,” he added.
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