Online Reporter
ROYAL Challengers Bengaluru captain Rajat Patidar said head coach Andy Flower’s efforts to change the team culture had helped them retain their Indian Premier League (IPL) cricket crown.
Virat Kohli scored an unbeaten 75 off 42 balls as Bengaluru chased down 156 to secure a five-wicket win over Gujarat Titans in Sunday’s final.
Zimbabwean Flower, who was appointed ahead of the 2024 season, has helped Bengaluru shake off the “nearly men” tag they acquired after finishing runners-up three times in the first 17 editions of the IPL.
“I’ve played five seasons of the IPL, and he is one of the best coaches. The way he handles players, not only those who play,” Patidar told reporters.
“For him, the players who aren’t playing, the first-timers, he spends a lot of time with every individual. I don’t have words to express, but he’s the best coach I’ve played under.
“The (team) culture has changed. I don’t know what it was before 2021. But from when I’ve come in, there have been a lot of changes in the mindset of players. The coaching staff treats every player equally — that’s a big change.”
Speaking at a press conference in the early hours of yesterday, Patidar said Bengaluru had set their sights on becoming the first team to win three IPL titles in a row.
“It’s my birthday. There can’t be a better gift than this,” added Patidar, who turned 32 yesterday.
“The individual that I am, I always focus on living in the present. We have won back-to-back; we’ll celebrate but the focus will be how we can now do this three in a row.”
Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s successful IPL title defence has further enhanced the growing reputation of Zimbabwean head coach Flower.
Indian superstar Kohli may have once again stolen the headlines, but it is the unassuming Flower who has orchestrated RCB’s recent success after more than a decade of failures.
In the process, he is rapidly building a case as one of the most influential and successful coaches in IPL history.
Kohli’s unbeaten 75 from 42 balls guided RCB to a five-wicket victory over Gujarat Titans in Sunday’s final, securing a second successive title for the franchise after finally ending their long wait for silverware in 2025.
But Cape Town-born Flower deserves enormous credit for transforming RCB from perennial underachievers into one of the most consistent and formidable teams in the competition.
The former Zimbabwe captain arrived ahead of the 2024 season and quickly implemented a data-driven approach, clear tactical identity and strong squad culture. The results have been remarkable.
RCB have now won back-to-back IPL crowns under Flower.
The Zimbabwean copped a fine after losing his cool during a dramatic encounter against the Mumbai Indians last month but all will have been forgiven as he led RCB to yet more glory.
His impact extends beyond Bengaluru, having previously guided the Lucknow Super Giants to play-off appearances in both of their first two seasons in 2022 and 2023, thus maintaining a perfect IPL play-off record.
He had begun his IPL career as an assistant coach with the Punjab Kings in 2020.
A former international, Flower is Zimbabwe’s greatest-ever player and, at his peak in late 2021, was ranked the best Test batsman in the world. He transitioned to coaching and led England to the World T20 title in 2010.
Sunday’s triumph sees Flower closing in on the ranks of the most successful coaches in IPL history.
In terms of silverware, former New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming still leads the way having coached Chennai Super Kings to five IPL titles and an extraordinary 10 finals appearances. Former Sri Lankan star Mahela Jayawardene bagged three championships with Mumbai Indians, and former Australia coach Trevor Bayliss has two triumphs with Kolkata Knight Riders.
But Flower’s consistent body of work across multiple franchises — now crowned with consecutive IPL titles — places him firmly in the conversation of greatest IPL coaches ever. — Reuters/sacricketmagazine.com/Zimpapers Sports Hub
