Royal Challengers Bengaluru head coach Andy Flower said the decision-making in their camp ultimately came down to the batters as they weighed up whether to chase down a steep target or focus on finishing at the top of the standings when they faced Sunrisers Hyderabad on Friday, May 22. RCB fell short by 55 runs while chasing 255, but the result still suited their wider objective: they kept their net run-rate ahead of both SRH and Gujarat Titans, ending the league phase at the summit.
Flower explained that the early discussions had revolved around going after the 255, yet they had also mapped out other possibilities depending on how the match unfolded. “We were in a position to keep pushing to chase down 255, but ultimately we got the job done and topped the league. It’s quite a tricky situation when you’ve got these conflicting things—winning the game and ensuring we top the league,” Flower said after the contest.
He added that the side had looked at multiple numbers throughout the day. “We did discuss the various targets. So I think we needed 166 to confirm top two, 179 to confirm top of the league and obviously 255 to win the game. I thought Venky (Iyer) batted brilliantly up front to give us that impetus. And then we wanted the batsmen to get a feel of the game out there and make a decision about whether they wanted to take on the 255 or the 180.”
Securing first place means RCB will advance directly to Qualifier 1. Historically, the franchise that wins Qualifier 1 has gone on to lift the title in 12 of the last 15 IPL seasons. Flower also singled out Iyer for special praise, pointing to how effectively he has handled limited opportunities so far.
With Jacob Bethell unavailable due to injury, Iyer was pushed to open the innings and produced a rapid knock of 44 off 19 deliveries, helping keep RCB in contention even against what proved to be an unlikely chase. The knock also meant RCB went with three overseas players in the playing XI, despite having Jordan Cox available as a top-order option.
Flower said he had “a lot of respect” for Iyer, emphasizing that the batter had waited for his chance and made the most of it whenever selected. “He’s had to wait for his chance. And every time he’s had a chance, either as an Impact Player when we’ve needed the extra batsmen because we’ve got ourselves into some trouble in the innings, or in the last two matches when he’s been given a chance—first at number four in Dharamsala, and then today opening the batting—he’s taken all of those chances. So his attitude through the season has been outstanding,” Flower said.
The coach continued by highlighting Iyer’s preparation and mindset throughout the season. “I’ve got a lot of respect for a man that’s played a lot of IPL cricket, played for India, and was sitting on the sidelines waiting for his chance. He’s been in that dugout. He’s had a big smile on his face all the time. He’s practised hard every single practice session. He’s worked hard. He’s worked hard at his bowling, his fielding and his batting. And he’s been exemplary, to be honest. So a lot of respect for him.”
Flower also noted that as the match progressed the pitch slowed down, with the slower deliveries gripping more, which made batting more difficult in the later stages. Sunrisers Hyderabad head coach Daniel Vettori, meanwhile, said the pitch behaved in the way they had expected, while also crediting RCB with enabling a bigger total than they initially estimated.
“I think it was exactly how we anticipated, that’s why we batted first. I think it was like the Punjab wicket, where there were a lot of runs to be had, but like the Punjab game, RCB dropped a lot of catches, which actually gave us more runs than we potentially deserved,” Vettori said. He added that although the scoreboard looked imposing, it still made sense on that surface, and estimated that a total in the 200 to 220 range would have been a strong outcome. “But I thought 200 to 220 was a really good score on that surface.”
Vettori further mentioned that SRH have won only three tosses this season, yet over the past three years they have consistently chosen to bat first on pitch number two across the last three years, and they repeated that approach against RCB. He also pointed out that for SRH, as is often the case, the foundation for their big total was laid during the Powerplay, where the top order attacked the new ball.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who is a joint-holder of the Purple Cap, conceded 25 in his opening two overs and finished with figures of 0-51. Vettori said their plan to counter Bhuvneshwar—who previously played for SRH—was based on the fact that SRH’s openers are willing to take on bowlers, and that the conditions in Hyderabad don’t offer much swing, which reduces a significant part of what Bhuvneshwar can do. “You’ve seen our openers bat for 14 games for three years,” Vettori said. “They’re going to take anyone on, and it doesn’t swing in Hyderabad, so that negates a big percentage of what Bhuvi does, and he’s been an exceptional bowler for every team he’s been at. And he’s had another fantastic year, so to have any chance of winning, we had to take him on, and fortunately, today was our day.”
With the league stage concluded, RCB and GT will meet in Qualifier 1 on May 26, while SRH will play the fourth team to qualify in the Eliminator on May 27.
