RCB mid-season review: Can No.18's dream finally become a reality in the 18th season?

The Royal Challengers Bengaluru are sitting in the top 4 after the mid-season of this year’s IPL with 4 wins in 7 games so far. They’ve had a pretty good start to their campaign and would look to continue this momentum.

Hits
The jersey No.18, Virat Kohli, has been their best batter of the season, scoring 249 runs with an average of 49.80 and a strike rate of 141.49. Apart from him, his opening partner Phil Salt has also provided explosive starts, having made 212 runs with an average of 30.28 and a strike rate of 182.75. Tim David has chipped in with good cameos lower down the order. In the bowling department, Josh Hazlewood has been their standout performer with 12 wickets at an average of 16.91 and an economy of 8.17 in the 7 games so far. Apart from him, both Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Krunal Pandya have taken 8 wickets each, while Yash Dayal also has 7 wickets to his name.

Misses
The biggest concern for RCB this season has been their middle order. The likes of Liam Livingstone, Jitesh Sharma, and Krunal Pandya have been far too inconsistent with the bat. While captain Rajat Patidar has accumulated 209 runs, RCB would still expect a bit more from him. Their fifth bowling option, featuring Suyash Sharma and Liam Livingstone, hasn’t made much impact so far and has been a weak link.
Playoff Chances
RCB has a very good chance of qualifying for the playoffs as they just need to replicate the same performance and win 4 out of the next 7 games to secure a spot. But the real question remains — can RCB finally win the 18th season and fulfill the long-standing dream of jersey No.18 and the fans?
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