Andy Flower, Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s new head coach, views their IPL title drought as a driving force. He’s motivated to end that drought, a key reason he took the job. The former Zimbabwean star replaced Sanjay Bangar ahead of 2024, after RCB failed to reach playoffs in 2023.
Now the seventh coach for Bengaluru’s franchise, Flower faces a crucial task: guiding them to an elusive maiden IPL championship. RCB remains one of only three original teams yet to capture that coveted crown. Overcoming this longstanding hurdle is Flower’s primary mission.
“I’m really excited about that challenge (of joining a side that is yet to win an IPL title),” Flower told the Hindustan Times during the ILT20, as revealed on Wednesday. “It is one of the main reasons I wanted to take this job. It gives me a very exciting opportunity to see if we can do something special with RCB. We have got a really exciting group of players. I think our squad is strong. We have got some great experience in the dressing room.”
Andy Flower
Although Flower has limited IPL experience, he guided England to the T20 World Cup championship in 2010 and has won the PSL, men’s Hundred, and ILT20.
“We will attack the game” – Andy Flower
Andy Flower did not go into detail about RCB’s season strategy, but did say that the club will “attack” the game and set modest and minor goals for itself.
“The opportunity of winning a tournament is right there in front of us, but my personal view of taking on a challenge like that is always simplifying the route,” he said. “We want to play a type of game that we will be proud of. We will attack the game, and that will give us a really good chance of getting through to playoffs. Once you get through, then you’ve got a good chance at the title. So, there are steps along the way that we must take.”
Andy Flower
The franchise’s confidence will be high as the women’s squad defeated the Delhi Capitals to win the Women’s Premier League 2024 title.