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Four games, four losses: RCB’s worst start ever, but hope floats

Four losses in a row marks RCB's worst start to an IPL season; the record is five in a row.

Virat Kohli's Royal Challengers Bangalore remain last with four losses.

Virat Kohli's Royal Challengers Bangalore remain last with four losses. © BCCI

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Virat Kohli’s Royal Challengers Bangalore lost their fourth game in a row this IPL 2019 season on Tuesday when they went down by seven wickets to hosts Rajasthan Royals in Jaipur, which is the franchise’s worst start for any edition of the tournament.

Having lost lost to Chennai Super Kings by eight wickets, to Mumbai Indians by six runs and Sunrisers Hyderabad by 118 runs since the IPL began last month, Bangalore were in search of their first win against Rajasthan – who had also dropped three in a row – but ended up on the losing side again. (VIDEO: RCB crash to fourth straight defeat)

Pu in to bat, Bangalore made 158/4 in 20 overs and failed to defend that, losing by seven wickets even though the game was taken into the final over. Shreyas Gopal set up Rajasthan’s win with the wickets of Kohli, AB de Villiers and Shimron Hetmyer. (READ: Buttler, Gopal get Royals up and running)

This defeat keeps RCB at the bottom of the IPL 2019 points table.

IPL 2019 LEADERBOARD

IPL 2019 points table

Four losses in a row marks the worst start for Bangalore in any IPL season, and matches the streak of four consecutive losses that Mumbai suffered in 2015 – the year that they won the IPL trophy. That season, Mumbai went from 0-4 down to script a stunning turnaround and storm into the playoffs and eventually win the league.

On the flip side, should Bangalore lost their next match against Kolkata Knight Riders they will equal the record for the worst start to an IPL season which belongs to Deccan Chargers, Delhi Daredevils and Mumbai – five losses in a row. (Talking Points: Gopal flummoxes Kohli and de Villiers)

In the 2012 edition, Deccan lost their first five matches. Their sixth was abandoned, and they managed to get their first win in the seventh. A year later, Daredevils were beaten in five straight games, including in the Super Over.

In 2014, Mumbai lost five in a row but recovered strongly to finish fourth on the points table. They made the playoffs and lost to Chennai in the Eliminator.

That fact could yet act as inspiration for beleaguered Bangalore, who are in desperate need of wins to stay in contention for the playoffs.

Rajasthan and Mumbai have two points each – from four and three matches respectively – and defeats for them could open up RCB’s chances of making the playoffs if they can string together some victories.

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