For most of this season, the Royal Challengers Bengaluru bowlers have been on a hiding to nothing. They haven’t been penetrative in the Powerplay, they have leaked runs by the bushel towards the back end and therefore, it was no surprise that they stacked up a six-match losing streak, winning just one of their first eight encounters.

That terrible phase with the ball coincided with Mohammed Siraj going AWOL. India’s premier strike bowler alongside Jasprit Bumrah seemed jaded after the Test series against England, and his lack of penetration had a direct impact on his team’s fortunes. So much so, that Siraj was even benched for the home tie against Sunrisers Hyderabad 20 days back, when RCB conceded an IPL-high 287 for three.