As Royal Challengers Bengaluru prepares to go up in opposition to Sunrisers Hyderabad within the IPL 2026 opener right here on Saturday, head coach Andy Flower seemed again at fond reminiscences from its maiden title run final season.
“The franchise labored exhausting for a few years to get that star on our shirts. That was embodied most in Virat’s dedication to the franchise over such an extended time frame,” Flower stated on the pre-match press convention right here on Friday.
“However it’s now 2026, and we’re wanting ahead to this season’s problem,” Flower stated.
Flower drew a comparability between long-serving RCB stalwart Virat Kohli and Sachin Tendulkar.
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“Once I was enjoying, I used to get pleasure from watching Sachin practise. The identical goes right here (with Kohli). I actually get pleasure from watching masters of their artwork do their factor. Virat seems to be on high of his recreation. He seems to be very match, very lean, very hungry. Watching him time and strike the ball in coaching – I feel he’s on the peak of his powers,” Flower stated.
The previous Zimbabwe captain said that Hazlewood won’t characteristic in Saturday’s outing. “He gained’t be prepared for tomorrow; he’s simply received off the airplane. We’ll be monitoring his health very carefully, and we’re wanting ahead to him making his entrance into the IPL,” Flower stated.
The 57-year-old termed the ‘Impression Participant’ rule as an “attention-grabbing addition” to the game. “Tactically it’s fairly an attention-grabbing addition. I have to say although that one of many issues I like about cricket is the challenges you will have in balancing your eleven. It’s one of many issues that makes choice a little bit bit difficult. The Impression Participant rule hides that choice drawback a little bit,” Flower stated.
Printed on Mar 27, 2026