The Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) secured their first-ever IPL title after 18 attempts. Fans went into a frenzy after Virat Kohli and co defeated the Punjab Kings (PBKS) to clinch the prized trophy in June 2025. All that frenzy seems to have died down exactly six months later, and fans now wonder if RCB can bag back-to-back IPLs for the first time in their history.
Let’s check out some factors that could hinder or better the franchise’s chances of achieving remarkable success in India’s most-prestigious franchise-level competition.
Why Will the RCB Repeat their 2025 Success?
Squad cohesion
RCB retained 17 players from their title-winning lineup ahead of the IPL 2026 auction. The bulk of players that made that successful run possible are still in Bengaluru for another season. Squad cohesion and improvements at auction could be the major reason why RCB bags back-to-back IPL titles in 2026.
Decent run of form
Players responsible for RCB’s title-winning run were in fine form throughout last season and could seek to transmit that playing strength into 2026. Keeping the squad together could trigger a continuous run that sees RCB secure another title this season.
What Will Prevent RCB from Clinching Back-to-Back IPL Titles in 2026?
Potential injuries, greater competitive effort from other teams
Injuries to key players could trigger a downward spiral in the run of results, particularly among teams that seek to retain titles. Opposition teams will see games against title-holders as must-win matches, and this could put a strain on squads aiming to keep their crown for another season.
Late-season form dips
Each IPL team will need to play a long run of fixtures in quick succession in the expanded schedule. 80+ games will ensure all IPL teams get stretched to their playing limits from the first game right into this season’s latter stages.
Stress under pressure could trigger an unexpected loss of form in players, and this could affect match-winning abilities in crucial encounters.
8 Times RCB Failed to Clinch an IPL Title before 2025 Success
RCB’s journey to an IPL crown was fraught with near-misses, but 8 seasons stood out in their quest to achieve franchise cricket glory. The first-ever chance RCB had to secure a title came in 2009 against now-defunct Deccan Chargers (DCH). A 6-wicket loss sparked a run that will inflict major heartbreak on the franchise for several seasons until 2025.
| Year | Stage | Opponent | Result | Margin |
| 2009 | Eliminator | Deccan Chargers | Lost | 6 wickets |
| 2011 | Qualifier 1 | Chennai Super Kings | Lost | 38 runs |
| 2014 | Eliminator | Kolkata Knight Riders | Lost | 3 wickets |
| 2015 | Eliminator | Mumbai Indians | Lost | 8 wickets |
| 2016 | Qualifier 1 | Sunrisers Hyderabad | Lost | 1 run |
| 2018 | Qualifier 1 | Sunrisers Hyderabad | Lost | 8 runs |
| 2021 | Qualifier 1 | Kolkata Knight Riders | Lost | 38 runs |
| 2022 | Qualifier 1 | Rajasthan Royals | Lost | 7 wickets |
Their last 7 seasons ended with non-qualification for the playoffs in 2 (2023, 2024) and a Qualifiers finish in 2018, 2021, and 2022. RCB finally tasting success in 2025 ended a long trophy drought that seemed to label the franchise as perennial underachievers.
RCB’s Road to IPL 2025 Title
| Match No. | Date | Fixture | Venue | Result |
| Match 1 | Mar 22, 2025 | RCB vs KKR | Eden Gardens, Kolkata | RCB won by 7 wickets |
| Match 8 | Mar 28, 2025 | RCB vs CSK | MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai | RCB won by 50 runs |
| Match 14 | Apr 02, 2025 | RCB vs GT | M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru | GT won by 8 wickets |
| Match 21 | Apr 07, 2025 | RCB vs MI | Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai | RCB won by 12 runs |
| Match 24 | Apr 10, 2025 | RCB vs DC | M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru | DC won by 6 wickets |
| Match 28 | Apr 13, 2025 | RCB vs RR | Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur | RCB won by 9 wickets |
| Match 34 | Apr 18, 2025 | RCB vs PBKS | M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru | PBKS won by 5 wickets |
| Match 37 | Apr 20, 2025 | RCB vs PBKS | New PCA Stadium, Chandigarh | RCB won by 7 wickets |
| Match 42 | Apr 24, 2025 | RCB vs RR | M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru | RCB won by 11 runs |
| Match 46 | Apr 27, 2025 | RCB vs DC | Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi | RCB won by 6 wickets |
| Match 52 | May 03, 2025 | RCB vs CSK | M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru | RCB won by 2 runs |
| Match 58 | May 17, 2025 | RCB vs KKR | M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru | Match abandoned |
| Match 65 | May 23, 2025 | RCB vs SRH | Ekana Stadium, Lucknow | SRH won by 42 runs |
| Match 70 | May 27, 2025 | RCB vs LSG | Ekana Stadium, Lucknow | RCB won by 6 wickets |
| Qualifier 1 | May 29, 2025 | RCB vs PBKS | New PCA Stadium, Chandigarh | RCB won by 8 wickets (Qualified) |
| Final | Jun 03, 2025 | RCB vs PBKS | Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad | RCB won by 6 runs (Champions) |
Full RCB IPL 2026 Squad
Retained
Batters: Rajat Patidar, Virat Kohli, Devdutt Padikkal, Phil Salt, Jitesh Sharma, Tim David, Abhinandan Singh
All-rounders: Krunal Pandya, Swapnil Singh, Romario Shepherd, Jacob Bethell, Suyash Sharma
Bowlers: Josh Hazlewood, Yash Dayal, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Nuwan Thushara, Rasikh Salam
Players bought at auction
Venkatesh Iyer, Jacob Duffy, Satwik Desai, Mangesh Yadav, Jordan Cox, Vicky Ostwal, Kanishk Chouhan, Vihaan Malhotra.
