IPL 2019: Three reasons why RCB can still make it to the playoffs

A struggling Royal Challengers Banglore side took the field against an upbeat Kolkata Knight Riders on Friday and they were put into bat by Dinesh Karthik.

The home side scored 205 runs in their 20 overs and until the 16th over of the KKR innings, RCB were strolling towards their first victory, but a superhuman performance from Andre Russell ensured that RCB lost their fifth consecutive match in this year's IPL.

Although many RCB fans would have almost given up hope about their team making it into the playoffs of the Indian Premier League this year after witnessing something like that, there still are some reasons to believe that if you can get on a run of victories, then anything is possible in this format.

So, in this slideshow, we look at the 3 reasons why RCB can still make it through to the playoffs.

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#3 They seem to have gotten their team combination right

Virat Kohli might have finally got his team combination right ( Image Courtesy: IPLT20/BCCI )

This has been RCB's main cause for criticism as this year as they just haven't been getting the team combination right at the start of the IPL, but against KKR, Virat Kohli just might have found the best combination to go forward with for the remainder of the tournament.

They dropped Shimron Hetmyer to go for Tim Southee to strengthen their bowling attack and they got in Pawan Negi for Umesh Yadav to make up for the batting numbers. Negi's inclusion turned out to be brilliant as he was brilliant on the field and with the ball.

Also, RCB played some very good cricket against KKR and those were individual mistakes that cost them the game. They were sloppy in the field and Mohammed Siraj had a very bad day with the ball and on the field.

If Kohli's men sharpen up a little bit on the field and also improve their death bowling, then they can be a really frightening side

#2 The quality in their batting lineup

AB de Villiers (Image Courtesy: IPLT20/BCCI )

RCB have arguably two of the best modern generation white ball cricketers in their team in the form of Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers. When something of that quality is present in your team, then anything can happen. Kohli and de Villiers were brilliant against KKR and their partnership was absolutely delightful to watch.

Kohli found his form against KKR and if he continues to play like that consistently for the remaining matches for RCB, then everyone knows what he can do and these two batsmen have the capability of winning their side the match singlehandedly. Also, Parthiv Patel has looked brilliant so far and Marcus Stoinis also found his form against KKR.

So, everything is not gloomy for RCB and their batting unit is clearly firing. But they just need to lift their bowling a little bit and if they do that, RCB can beat anyone on their day.

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#1 It has been done before

Aditya Tare (Mumbai Indians)

The primary reason why RCB should still have the faith of making it to the playoffs is that it has been done before and it can be done this year. Mumbai Indians in the 2014 season of the IPL started in the same way and they made it into the playoffs by beating Rajasthan Royals in an absolute thriller of a match.

Also, RCB in 2009 won only one match from their first five matches, but they still made it to the final in that IPL season and eventually ended as runner-ups. Right now, RCB are in a very delicate position and they have to win almost every game from now on to make to the playoffs, and if there's a team in the IPL this year with the quality to do it, then it is the Virat Kohli led side.