- By Namrata Vijay
- Wed, 13 May 2026 05:35 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
RCB vs KKR IPL 2026: Royal Challengers Bengaluru hold a strong playoff position, but with a crowded top four this season, teams must remain vigilant. Despite their recent win over the Mumbai Indians, ex-India pacer Zaheer Khan urged the team to adjust its playing XI to remain competitive, as its key players have seen limited action this year.
During a Cricbuzz interaction, Zaheer recommended adding an extra fast bowler to the XI. With Josh Hazlewood struggling to perform, Zaheer suggested Jacob Duffy return to support Hazlewood and Bhuvaneshwar Kumar.
Zaheer remarked on Cricbuzz, "The Raipur pitch might offer uneven bounce and greater help to fast bowlers. Because of this, RCB can consider making a change. It is yet to be seen whether they opt for an Indian pacer or an overseas pacer. If they choose an overseas pacer, the team combination could shift, but that would not be a major issue."
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Overseas batting stars have been advised to make way
The Bengaluru franchise features domestic bowlers such as Abhinandan Singh, who played several games earlier, and Mangesh Yadav, acquired at last year's auction. They may also include Venkatesh Iyer, who can bat deep and replace Romario Shepherd, while Jacob Bethell could be swapped with Duffy.
Zaheer explained, "To bring in Duffy, RCB can either replace Romario Shepherd or Jacob Bethell. Including a bowler like Duffy significantly improves the bowling lineup. For the batting, Venkatesh Iyer is available on the bench, so Suyash Sharma and one overseas player might need to sit out. Suyash's form has been lacking, and the pitch provided little for him as well."
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The Rajat Patidar-led side rarely alters its playing XI, but with playoff and top-two races intensifying, now is the optimal moment to try bench players.