IPL 2025 season opener: RCB head coach Flower optimistic of facing KKR challenge

Royal Challengers Bengaluru to take on Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL season opener at the Eden Gardens

KOLKATA: Royal Challengers Bengaluru head coach Andy Flower says they are conscious of building an experienced side in the recruitment, and in saying that, they will be able to give a lot of support to Rajat (Patidar – new captain).

“I think he is really excited about this challenge, and we’re right behind him,” Flower informed the media on the eve of the IPL season opener against Kolkata Knight Riders at the Eden Gardens here.”

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“It’s a really good challenge for us, in our first two games, to play away against Kolkata Knight Riders and Chennai Super Kings. It is a great opportunity for us to get stuck into this competition and have a great start in two big away games,” Flower said.

The RCB head coach also acknowledged the threat posed by Sunil Narine and Varun Chakravarthy. But RCB head into the encounter with a formidable batting unit that includes the likes of Virat Kohli, Phil Salt, Liam Livingstone, Devdutt Padikkal, Jitesh Sharma, Tim David and Krunal Pandya.

“Chakravarthy is in really good form and we know about Narine over many years. But that is why you play this game at this level—it is to test yourself against the best in the world, and that is one of the most exciting and rewarding parts of playing international cricket or IPL cricket, which the standard is very much like international cricket and obviously all the excitement and energy that comes with playing top-class cricket in India comes with that as well”, he explained.

On RCB’s spin bowling contingent, Flower said that Krunal Pandya was a significant part of its targeted players in the auction, and it’s great to have him on board.

“He’s a smart and courageous cricketer and again he’s got leadership experience as well. He’s a streetwise operator and he’s obviously got class as a left-arm spinner, let alone as an all-rounder. That is comforting to have him in our group and leading the way in the spin department,” he said.

“Then we’ve got, on the wrist-spin front, Suyash, who’s a very exciting young prospect with limited experience but a really high ceiling. We’re hoping for great things from him, but we’re also not expecting him to be Shane Warne from the beginning,” Flower said.