Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s march to IPL 2025 glory was powered by a relentless, “hunter” mentality. Yet the franchise’s ambition for 2026 appears to have grown even larger—so much so that only hours after the celebrations spilled into the early hours of the morning, director of cricket Mo Bobat was already talking about chasing an “infinite goal”.
Confidence grows as the unknown fades
- Bobat said the sense of uncertainty that comes with the “unknown” phase of a season eased as the 2026 campaign progressed, giving way to a stronger group belief.
- RCB’s points-table position supported that shift: they finished at the top and earned a place in Qualifier 1, a route that has historically offered teams a meaningful advantage in the race for the trophy.
- Bobat described last season’s journey as one where the squad felt it had to complete a first major milestone, while 2026 carried a different tone—an intentional push for players to be ambitious again, backed by deeper confidence across the group.
Head coach Andy Flower traced that confidence back to a difficult turning point. RCB’s 2024 campaign started in turmoil, with the franchise languishing at the bottom after eight matches. That rough stretch forced a reassessment of their approach and a commitment to strategic adjustments before the season reached its end.
The results of that reset arrived quickly. RCB qualified for the playoffs in 2024 with six straight wins, a momentum run that sparked a renaissance that other teams have since tried to emulate.
While those outcomes highlighted the transformation, Flower also pointed to the foundations underneath: steady decision-making and auction planning, reinforced by a scouting structure designed to feed the team with consistent information. The payoff has been clear—RCB have made the playoffs six times in the last seven seasons.
Scouting, backroom support and the people in the room
Flower said Mo Bobat built a scouting setup that is still in the process of growing, with the lead-in to major moments treated as a collective exercise. Flower noted that all scouts were present together for the final and stressed how valuable that is for preparation—ensuring the “best people” are involved and that their cricket opinions are trusted.
Flower added that Malolan Rangarajan has been part of the franchise for a number of years and has played an instrumental role in setting up the scouting system alongside Bobat. The coaching staff’s confidence in the scouts, Flower said, is built on their diligence and the way they operate within the wider structure.
A key element of RCB’s progress, Flower continued, has been the strength of the Indian contingent in the backroom. He singled out Omkar Salvi for praise, described Rangarajan as important to decision-making processes, and highlighted Dinesh Karthik as a high-energy presence full of ideas. For Flower, it’s ultimately a proper team effort—coaches and support staff working as one.
That scouting work fed into the lead-up to the mega auction in November 2024. Flower and Bobat described it as a potential game-changer, allowing the franchise to shape a squad around “battle-tested performers”. Before IPL 2025, key additions included Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Josh Hazlewood, Krunal Pandya, Tim David, Devdutt Padikkal, Phil Salt and others.
Bobat explained the philosophy behind auction recruitment: winning a tournament at the auction isn’t necessarily guaranteed, but losing one can be avoided if the franchise is clear about the attributes it wants. He said the balance they sought was between skill and character, adding that the pressure moments often reveal the best sportsmen—and RCB had several players who naturally “gravitate” toward those situations.
The IPL 2026 final offered a vivid demonstration of the plan RCB had constructed. Bhuvneshwar and Hazlewood set the tone with the new-ball, using hard-length tactics against Shubman Gill and B Sai Sudharsan. Krunal again influenced the middle overs, and Virat Kohli became central to the chase when it mattered most.
Flower said that is exactly the type of match scenario the franchise had in mind while building its group.
Environment beyond the playing XI
Flower also emphasized that a team’s culture is often measured by what happens to players outside the playing XI. He pointed to Venkatesh Iyer as the clearest example—pushed into the top order when Jacob Bethell struggled with form and with Salt still working through injury recovery.
Flower said the cultural responsibility extends to those who aren’t always playing: they need to feel valued and also feel they are progressing, even when they are not in the XI every day. He described how Iyer had to sit out after winning IPLs and playing for India, requiring patience until the moment arrived.
Flower added that Iyer didn’t know when or if his opportunity would come, but once it did, he contributed every time. Iyer only began receiving regular minutes toward the end of the season, and Flower highlighted his impact in Dharamsala, where Rajat Patidar was unavailable due to concussion. Against Punjab Kings, Iyer produced a match-winning 73, then followed with cameos of 44, 19 and 32 in his next three matches as opener.
Flower praised Iyer’s maturity, noting that he accepted the early setbacks without losing competitiveness, and made sure he was ready when the chance arrived—ultimately becoming a significant factor in RCB’s ability to close out the tournament.
Evidence-led decisions, not evidence-led control
The same clarity also shaped how the franchise makes decisions. RCB’s reputation as one of the more analytically advanced operations in the IPL has been growing, but Bobat stressed that data is only one piece of the overall process.
Bobat said the franchise does not overemphasize numbers. However, he added that the shared philosophy is to pursue evidence-based decisions—blending the more objective storytelling that statistics can provide with what experienced eyes and ears detect in real time.
Flower described how that approach is embedded across leadership and roles. Patidar, as captain, is regularly exposed to both analytical perspectives and the intuition of seasoned coaches. Dinesh Karthik’s tactical instincts are valued alongside any statistical framework. The common goal, Flower said, is consistent: evidence should guide decisions without becoming the decision itself.
In the middle of this process sits analyst Freddie Wilde, whose influence reaches beyond match-up sheets and spreadsheets. Bobat said Wilde can move between thinking like an analyst and operating like a coach, and that he is also practical in his approach—recognizing that numbers do not always capture the full story.
Patidar offered one of the clearest examples of the philosophy in practice. Even though he is widely seen as among the best players of spin, Patidar repeatedly sought Wilde’s help to prepare for mystery-spin situations.
Patidar explained that on some days he struggled to read variations from the hand using videos, prompting him to reach out to Wilde. He recalled asking for help to understand the differences, noting that people had told him he was a “spin basher”, but insisted that his focus was not just on spin as a concept—it was about picking the bowler from the hands, and that Wilde had helped him considerably.
Patidar also said his preparation was not limited to net-batting routines. He said it was not simply about targeting ball one and ball two to force a plan from the start; instead, he gained greater clarity on his role. He explained that in the middle overs, if he is batting, he can maximize his impact and take the kind of risks he enjoys most.
“Don’t need coaches driving intensity, Kohli is living it”
With 19 seasons behind him, Virat Kohli continues to represent the standards the franchise wants to uphold. Bobat said IPL 2026 was Kohli’s best-ever season in terms of strike rate, and that the improvement was shaped by decisions made through the batting order starting with the late-2024 surge Flower referenced earlier. Bobat added that the change has had a ripple effect across the squad.
Bobat described Kohli’s hunger and drive as genuinely inspiring, stressing that the team doesn’t need coaches to push intensity because Kohli demonstrates it himself in the middle. For Patidar, Kohli’s influence has been equally significant and personal.
As a relatively new captain in the previous year, Patidar said he often watched more than he spoke. Captaincy demanded more communication, which he is still learning to embrace, yet he has kept a strong focus on the fundamentals of observing and making better calls.
Patidar said that whenever he is around Kohli, he notices details closely, and whenever he has doubts about leadership or decision-making, he leans on Virat bhai.
While Kohli remains the heartbeat, Flower said Bhuvneshwar was also pivotal with the ball. Flower argued that RCB’s success over the last two seasons may not have happened without Bhuvneshwar producing performances under pressure repeatedly. He also said Bhuvneshwar surprised him with his skill level, calmness during pressure moments, competitiveness, and the positive impact he creates around the team.
For Flower, those traits help explain why confidence has become so entrenched in this RCB side. He said players such as Kohli, Bhuvneshwar and Hazlewood create an environment where calmness spreads—contagious, reinforcing and sustained.
Patidar, Flower added, has benefited most from that atmosphere. In his first two years as captain, he has had the rare advantage of learning leadership while surrounded by some of the most experienced players in the game. Flower said the lessons have come from every direction, and Patidar has simply been grateful to absorb them.
Ultimately, Flower suggested, that may be RCB’s most significant achievement. Beyond trophies, the franchise has built a system that nurtures leadership and reinforces standards from within.
The hunt delivered RCB their first title. Confidence to keep evolving has brought them a second. And based on the conversations in the hours after their latest triumph, the franchise believes its final destination is still further ahead.
