Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) head coach Andy Flower had high praise for captain Rajat Patidar after guiding the team to their first IPL title with a narrow six-run win over Punjab Kings in Ahmedabad. Despite having played only four international matches for India, Patidar’s inexperience did not hinder his leadership effectiveness. “One of the most impressive things about what Rajat has done this year is, as an inexperienced captain, that he hasn’t been affected by it,” said Flower. “He’s still the lovely, gentle, polite Rajat Patidar we knew last year.”
Captaining a high-profile team like RCB is no easy feat. Flower recalled, “If I cast my mind back to how poorly I captained when I was his age, I’ve got tremendous respect for how he’s held himself with all that scrutiny and captained some big players.” Flower underlined the importance of Patidar’s calmness: “You can’t underestimate the calmness he showed in leading some really big players, a really big franchise, making good decisions out there in the middle under the pressure.”
In a key moment of the final, Phil Salt’s exceptional catch near the backward-square-leg boundary dismissed Priyansh Arya, a pivotal play that Flower acknowledged. “That was an outstanding catch, wasn’t it?” Flower commented. “Phil only got back from England at 3 a.m., and he’s been an outstanding batter and fielder for us throughout the season. His ability to keep calm under pressure was amazing.”
The pitch conditions added a layer of complexity to the match, with the ball sticking a bit in the first innings. Flower explained, “We would have bowled first if we’d won the toss. The pitch was a little tricky, but there were little cameos along the way from our batting group that took us to 190.”
Dinesh Karthik’s transition from player last year to team mentor and batting coach also received Flower’s commendation, highlighting Karthik’s successful adaptation and influence off the field.
