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After starting their title defense in style with two wins, RCB lost their first game in IPL 2026 when they surrendered in front of Rajasthan Royals. On the other hand, Mumbai Indians have so far won just one game out of three.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru players react after their loss to Rajasthan royals in IPL 2026. (REUTERS)Former India cricketer Irfan Pathan flagged Royal Challengers Bengaluru's (RCB) major concern in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) stating there will questions in the camp after the defending champions lost to Rajasthan Royals in Guwahati on Friday.
Having won convincingly at home in their first two games, RCB were blown away by a Vaibhav Suryavanshi onslaught to lose a game for the first time in this edition. Ahead of RCB's important clash against Mumbai Indians, Pathan pointed out a flaw which the Rajat Patidar-led side would like to address.
“RCB are travelling now. When they played their first two games at home, they won comfortably, but the moment they went on the road, they lost in Guwahati against the Rajasthan Royals. So, there will be a few questions in the camp,” Pathan told on JioHotstar's 'Match Centre Live',
Not just the clash of two of the biggest heavyweights in IPL, the MI vs RCB clash is also about the Rohit Sharma vs Virat Kohli spectacle. Although the duo has retired from Tests and T20Is, both Rohit and Kohli continue to be major crowd-pullers for their respective teams.
Why Mumbai Indians are ahead of RCB?
While RCB have the likes of Josh Hazlewood, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Phil Salt as other high-profile names other than Kohli, Mumbai Indians could also be called as the second Indian team as they boast of Rohit, Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Jasprit Bumrah and captain Hardik Pandya.
According to Pathan, Mumbai Indians are slightly ahead of RCB in terms of man-to-man comparison but the game will be decided who bowls well at death. "I feel the game might be decided by which team bowls better in the end overs, and the toss will be an important factor too.
"RCB have the form, but in a man-to-man comparison, I feel Mumbai are slightly ahead," added Pathan. In their past five clashes, RCB hold the edge, having won three and lost two.
Rohit Sharma vs Virat Kohli in MI vs RCB
In RCB vs MI matches during the IPL, it is Kohli who enjoys an upper hand with 922 runs in 34 matches and 33 innings at an average of 31.79 and a strike rate of 128.77, with six fifties. On the other hand, Rohit, who also had battles with Virat during his days as a Deccan Chargers player, has represented Mumbai Indians in 26 matches against RCB, scoring 629 runs in 25 innings at an average of 27.34 and a strike rate of over 142, with four fifties and a best score of 94.
Catch the live updates from IPL 2026 with the complete IPL 2026 Schedule and the IPL 2026 Points Table. Also, know who are currently leading the charts in IPL 2026 Orange Cap and IPL 2026 Purple Cap.
About the Author
Koushik Paul
Koushik lives and breathes sports. After transitioning from his own aspirations of becoming a professional athlete, he successfully channeled that lifelong passion into a prolific career, documenting the action both from the sidelines and the editorial desk. With over eight years of industry experience, Koushik joined LiveMint as a Deputy Chief Content Producer in 2024, following impactful stints at Outlook India, India.com, Sportskeeda, Women’s CricZone, and OrissaPOST. A 2017 Journalism and Mass Communication graduate from Maharaja Manindra Chandra College, Kolkata, Koushik has reported on high-profile events including the FIFA U17 World Cup 2017, Ranji Trophy, FIH Pro League, FIH World League finals, the Indian Premier League, and Lionel Messi’s historic visit to Kolkata in 2025. <br><br> While he possesses a versatile command over all sports, he finds his niche in cricket, specializing in breaking news, long-form interviews, global sporting updates, and high-energy live blogs. Koushik’s professional perspective was further sharpened through the 2020 AIPS Young Reporters Programme, where he gained invaluable insights from renowned international journalists, including Keir Radnedge and Riccardo Romani from the United Kingdom, and Martin Mazur from Argentina. Currently based between Kolkata and Delhi, Koushik remains at the forefront of the breaking developments that shape the public sporting discourse. When he isn't tracking scores or deconstructing plays, he can be found exploring new landscapes on his travels or channeling his creative energy into the kitchen. <br><br> If you have a compelling story to share or know an individual who deserves the spotlight, please reach out via email at <a href="koushik.paul@htdigital.in">koushik.paul@htdigital.in</a>.
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