The Indian Premier League (IPL) has long been a stage where batters dominate, but it also exposes bowlers on unforgiving days. In the case of a franchise such as Royal Challengers Bengaluru, the bowling flaws have tainted their batting genius on many occasions.
A few RCB bowlers have suffered nightmare outings over the years, giving away runs at an appalling economy which pulled matches out of their reach.
Although some of these bowlers are match-winners, even the most talented have bad days in the high-pressure situation of T20 cricket. These expensive spells not only highlight the unpredictability of the format but also underline how a single over can completely alter the course of a match.In this article, we take a closer look at the top five worst economy rates recorded by RCB bowlers in IPL history, analyzing their performances, match situations, and overall impact on the game.
Top 5 Worst Economy Rates by RCB Bowlers in IPL Matches
Player | Year | Overs | Runs Conceded | Economy Rate | Opponent |
Harshal Patel | 2014 | 3 | 56 | 18.66 | PBKS |
Virat Kohli | 2012 | 2 | 36 | 18.00 | CSK |
Mohammed Siraj | 2022 | 2 | 36 | 18.00 | PBKS |
Abhinandan Singh | 2026 | 3 | 54 | 18.00 | RR |
Raju Bhatkal | 2012 | 2 | 35 | 17.50 | CSK |
Top 5 Worst Economy Rates by RCB Bowlers in IPL Matches Details
1. Harshal Patel – Economy 18.66
Image Source : Getty Images
Harshal Patel tops this unwanted list with the worst economy rate by an RCB bowler in IPL history. In one of their encounters against Punjab Kings in IPL 2014, the right arm pacer gave away 56 runs in only three overs and also took two wickets. This performance was a hideous low point even though he did succeed later on and he even won a Purple Cap campaign.
The game had RCB giving up a colossal total and lost by 32 runs. The fact that Harshal could not curb the flow of runs under pressure brought out the fact that even skilled bowlers may not cope with the batting friendly pitches. This is the most costly spell in the IPL history of RCB.
2. Virat Kohli – Economy 18.00
Image Source : AFP
Virat Kohli hardly ever features on such a list, particularly when it comes to bowling, but one moment in IPL 2012 was truly memorable. Kohli was given the key penultimate over in a high scoring match against Chennai Super Kings where CSK required 43 to get with 12 balls remaining.
In that over, Kohli turned 28 to face Albie Morkel, and ended up with a 0/36 in two overs. Such a dramatic twist also gave RCB a heartbreaking last-ball defeat. The magic showed that even part-time bowlers could be under tremendous pressure in crunch moments, particularly when bowling to other strong hitters in the death-overs.
3. Mohammed Siraj – Economy 18.00
Image Source : BCCI
Mohammed Siraj has been a key figure in RCB’s bowling attack, but IPL 2022 saw one of his toughest outings. Playing against Punjab Kings, Siraj had a dismal economy rate of 18 as he conceded 36 runs in only two overs.
Siraj had difficulty with line and length in this match, as he was known to be an aggressive bowler and to be able to hit early. The counter attack was exploited to the fullest extent and every inaccurate pass was being punished. That costly spell cost RCB a lot, in terms of the 54-run drubbing they received, and it is evidence of how expensive even mini-spells are in T20 baseball, as momentum changes so quickly.
4. Abhinandan Singh – Economy 18.00
Image Source : Associated Press
One of the latest additions to this list is Abhinandan Singh and his performance in IPL 2026. The young pacer, who was playing against Rajasthan Royals, gave 54 runs in his three overs, as he failed to contain a strong batting line up.
Although the pressure of defending a large total and the aggressiveness of battlers in the IPL stage was still new to him, it was too much to handle. His spell was a topic of discussion when Rajasthan pursued the target with ease. Although it was a learning process that was difficult, this kind of match can actually help a bowler develop and become strong in their next season.
5. Raju Bhatkal – Economy 17.50
The IPL career of Raju Bhatkal might not have been long, but he had an awful experience against Chennai Super Kings in 2012. Bowling bowled two overs, giving up 35 runs and not a single dot ball was given to him, and that gave him an economy rate of 17.50.
Bhatkal struggled in the same match and Kohli was taken to pieces in, further worsening the bowling problems of RCB. The fact that there was no control and that no pressure could be built gave CSK the opportunity to make an amazing comeback. This game will always be one of the most dramatic illustrations of how fortunes might turn in a short period in IPL cricket.
Conclusion
T20 cricket is unforgiving, and even the best bowlers can endure difficult outings. These are RCB bowler performances which underscore the speed at which a match can get out of hand because of one costly spell. Although these records might be a disillusionment, they are also reminders of the plight that bowlers endure in a game in which the batting is violent.
For Royal Challengers Bengaluru, improving bowling consistency has always been crucial for success. Despite these setbacks, many players on this list have gone on to deliver match-winning performances, proving that one bad day does not define a cricketer’s career.