A title defence often begins with momentum—but for Royal Challengers Bengaluru, it has instead opened with a reminder of the modern game’s growing strain.
Speaking at a press conference, Director of Cricket Mo Bobat made it clear that injuries, particularly to fast bowlers, are no longer isolated incidents but part of a deeper structural issue affecting the global calendar.
Congested calendar under scrutiny
With multiple franchises entering IPL 2026 without key pacers, RCB’s own situation—headlined by Josh Hazlewood’s absence—has become part of a wider trend rather than an exception.
“It’s probably a symptom of the congested cricket schedule, isn’t it? Any of us who follow cricket know how challenging that is on a domestic level, but also an international level. It’s not ideal for any of the teams that are losing players at this stage because it impacts your planning,” Bobat said.
Expanding on the broader challenge, he pointed to the lack of clear answers around workload management in modern cricket.
“It’s a bigger question that cricket has to grapple with. Even if I think about my previous role working with England, many hours, many days and many months you spend trying to understand fast bowling and the demands,” he noted.
That uncertainty, he suggested, reflects both knowledge gaps and increasing physical demands.
“You can be under-bowled just as much as you can be over-bowled. So, understanding that is quite tricky,” he explained.
Bobat further added that the issue may stem from deeper systemic pressures within the sport.
“It probably shows you that either we don’t understand that area well enough still as a game or it might simply be that the workloads that players are being exposed to are unmanageable right now. When I talk about workloads, it’s important to know that any extreme is not wise.”
While acknowledging the challenge, he emphasised collaboration as the only viable short-term solution.
“I sympathise and empathise with any of the teams going through that at the minute because it’s not easy. We try to communicate really closely with the international governing bodies. Our medical team is excellent. They’re always communicating with players and other governing body medical teams,” he added.
Hazlewood injury and planning impact
RCB’s immediate concern centres around Hazlewood, a key contributor to their 2025 title-winning campaign, now working through recovery.
“Josh has missed quite a bit of cricket in recent times, so he’s currently working through a return to play programme. We are liaising very closely with both Josh and Cricket Australia, and our medical teams are collaborating very strongly on a day-to-day basis on his programme,” Bobat said.
Providing a timeline, he added: “As soon as he gets to a point where CA are happy, he’ll come over, and we hope to have him with us very soon.”
The disruption extends beyond personnel, with logistical uncertainties also affecting preparation.
“It was probably a bit of a distraction, because you want to have clarity. I prefer to try and assemble teams that can adapt to any surfaces and conditions. One of the beauties of playing in the IPL is that different grounds require different tactics, maybe different combinations,” he explained.
“You’re already trying to adapt between red soil surfaces, black soil surfaces, mixed soil. So, I don’t think it would have affected our decision-making too strongly. Ideally, you want these things clarified as early as possible,” he added.
Resetting mindset after historic title
While operational challenges dominate the early narrative, Bobat was equally clear that RCB’s approach this season must be grounded despite last year’s breakthrough.
“It is nice to have got that first trophy because it means we can look forward to and not have to answer those sorts of questions for too much longer. Hopefully, we can look forward and focus on what’s in front of us,” he said.
At the core of that reset is a deliberate cultural shift.
“This is a new campaign. A bit like last season, we weren’t carrying the baggage of 17 years. This year, we’re not carrying the ego of one year of success either. We have to start with humility,” he stated.
He also dismissed the idea that the franchise’s long wait for a title had created lasting psychological pressure within the squad.
“For example, if I take myself, it was only my second season with RCB. So, whilst I’m mindful of the many years that we haven’t won the trophy, I’m not personally carrying that baggage. So I’ve got a lot of fresh energy and a lot of optimism. That is true for much of the squad,” he said.
“I’m not sure I would describe it as a jinx. Franchise cricket is so transient and players come and go. Whilst our fans and the franchise might have been chasing that elusive trophy for 17 years, that isn’t the view of the world of everybody involved.”
Kohli’s legacy and dressing room dynamic
Within that evolving squad, Bobat highlighted the unique emotional weight carried by long-serving players.
“And that was quite beautiful to see, actually. It was great that we could share that moment with the likes of AB de Villiers and Chris Gayle, other guys who have been big, iconic players for the franchise. But I would just say that not everybody would have experienced it that same way,” he said.
He pointed specifically to Virat Kohli’s journey with the franchise.
“Virat’s quite a unique case in point. Obviously, he’s done the whole journey and he’s ridden the highs and the lows of many years. So, for him personally, it was quite an emotional outpouring at the end of that (2025) final.”
Backing Salt despite recent dip
As RCB recalibrate for the new season, attention has also turned to individual form, particularly that of Phil Salt following a modest T20 World Cup.
Bobat, however, expressed strong confidence in the England opener.
“He also really enjoys being with RCB. He enjoys the franchise. He enjoys his partnership with Virat. He works very well with the likes of Andy and DK. So, they’re doing some really good work right now,” he said.
“Someone like Phil Salt is still ranked in one of the top two or three T20 batters in the world,” he added.
Looking ahead, he remained optimistic about Salt’s immediate impact.
“And I’m pretty sure we’ll see at the start of the season Phil Salt doing his thing. You know, I’m looking forward to watching him and Virat walk out to bat like they do. A couple of gladiators walking out, which is always exciting. And they’ll be trying to put the opposition under pressure. We’ve got a lot of confidence in our team. In particular, with your question, we do have confidence in Phil Salt.”
A season shaped by bigger forces
As IPL 2026 begins, RCB’s campaign is being shaped as much by external pressures as internal ambition.
From managing injuries linked to an increasingly packed calendar to resetting culture after a historic title, the franchise enters the new season navigating both opportunity and constraint—aware that success may depend as much on adaptability off the field as performance on it.
