Kolkata: Royal Challengers Bengaluru will begin the Indian Premier League season with an away fixture against Kolkata Knight Riders at Eden Gardens on Saturday, 22 March. The match marks the dawn of a new era for RCB, with Rajat Patidar set to lead the franchise as captain. Ahead of the match, head coach Andy Flower acknowledged the challenge ahead, expressed confidence in the team’s leadership and balance, and shared his thoughts on the evolving trends in the game.
On playing the Kolkata Knight Riders, he said, “They had a great season last year, but this is a new year, everyone has got new squads, we have had a great preparation period. We like the look of our squad. We are pretty much ready.”
As Patidar steps into the captaincy role, Flower backed the 31-year-old and emphasised the experienced core surrounding him. “We were conscious of building an experienced side in our recruitment, and in saying that, they will be able to give a lot of support to Rajat. I think he is really excited about this challenge, and we’re right behind him.”
Flower also highlighted the significance of the early fixtures, particularly playing two away games against strong opposition. “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.”
With the Knight Riders boasting a formidable spin attack, Flower acknowledged the threat posed by Sunil Narine and Varun Chakravarthy. But RCB head into the encounterwith 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 remarked,
Balanced Squad with Spin Bowling Options
On RCB’s spin bowling contingent, Flower expressed optimism about the balance in the squad. “Krunal was a significant part of our 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.”
Flower further highlighted the variety within the spin attack “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. We’ve got to be patient and let him learn from his experiences, and it’s good that he’s got these experienced cricketers around him and a captain that he’ll be comfortable working with. To back them up, Swapnil Singh was good for us last year, and Liam Livingstone does a bit of everything.”
On evolving trends in the IPL
Flower also weighed in on the broader trend of higher scores in the IPL, attributing it to the evolving physicality and approach of modern batters. “A lot of the batters are becoming bigger and stronger and are starting to recognise the importance of it. But there’s still place in the game for players like Virat Kohli as well. Obviously, he’s a super fit, strong young man as well. There’s still space for high-quality, highly intelligent cricketers like that as well.”
Expanding on this shift, he added, “But there is a shift towards power. There’s no doubt about that and we saw that in the scores. But you see just that in the selection of our batting unit, you will see the emphasis on power with just a couple of exceptions. And I think that is the way the game is going.”
This news was originally published on this post .
About the author
Fußball-Experten kennen ihn – Messi-Kumpel plötzlich Straßen-Musiker
Wir haben personalisierte Videos für dich! Um mit Inhalten von Drittanbietern zu interagieren oder diese darzustellen, brauchen wir deine Zustimmung. externen Inhalt aktivieren Um eingebettete Inhalte anzuzeigen, ist Ihre jederzeit widerrufliche Einwilligung (über den Schalter oder über " Widerruf Tracking und Cookies " am Seitenende) zur Verarbeitung personenbezogener Daten nötig. Dabei können Daten in Drittländer wie die USA übermittelt werden (Art. 49 Abs. 1 lit. a DSGVO). Mit dem Aktivieren des Inhalts stimmen Sie zu. Weitere Infos finden Sie hier.
Ricardo Rocha ignora Botafogo e crava melhor SAF no Brasil hoje: “Número 1”
Ricardo Rocha, tetracampeão do mundo com o Brasil - Reprodução/YouTube Ricardo Rocha não tem dúvidas de que o modelo SAF aplicado no Bahia seja o melhor do Brasil. Adquirido pelo Grupo City, o Esquadrão tem alcançado uma evolução importante no aspecto esportivo e também administrativo. Na avaliação do ex-zagueiro, o clube nordestino enxugou consideravelmente suas dívidas, cenário este diferente do Botafogo, que possui ainda um grande débito na ‘praça’. PUBLICIDADE PUBLICIDADE “O Bahia é o único time do Nordeste que pode pensar em um título grande. Para mim, é a SAF que mais deu certo no Brasil, número 1. Não é nem o Botafogo com o Textor. Se você pegar o Botafogo, ainda tem dívidas grandes. O Bahia, se não me engano, tem 75% ou mais das suas dívidas pagas”, disse Ricardo Rocha, no programa ‘Galvão e Amigos’. “E o […]
Europa League semi-final betting: Can Ruben Amorim’s Red Devils topple Athletic Club?
For more stories like this click here to follow The Athletic’s sports betting section and have them added to your feed.The Europa League may be the second-tier continental competition, but the storyline weaving through one of its semi-final clashes is second to none. You would be hard-pressed to find a fixture featuring two sides with less in common than Athletic Club and Manchester United.AdvertisementAthletic are one of the most unique entities in sports. The club has experienced steady success in one of the world’s most competitive leagues despite narrowing their recruiting focus to a specific region in Spain. Over the past decade, United have been the exact opposite. A club with a rich tradition of winning trophies is now best known for an overpaid, underwhelming and ill-fitting group of players.The beauty of football, however, is that you can root with […]
Bahia hoje: Ceni tem três desfalques contra o Paysandu na Copa do Brasil
Rogério Ceni em registro durante treino no Bahia (Letícia Martins - Divulgação) Agitando as emoções da terceira fase na Copa do Brasil, o Bahia visita o Paysandu nesta quarta-feira (30), às 21h30 (de Brasília), no Mangueirão, em choque de ida, buscando trazer um bom resultado na bagagem para o duelo em Salvador, programado para o dia 21 de maio. Passando uma sequência ‘insana’ de jogos, o técnico Rogério Ceni vai promover modificações no time titular, podendo assim dar minutagem para vários jogadores, ao passo que preserva algumas peças, evitando assim problemas físicos mais sérios. PUBLICIDADE PUBLICIDADE Em termos de desfalques, o treinador do Bahia não terá três nomes: Kanu, Santiago Arias e o goleiro Ronaldo, todos entregues ao departamento médico. Por outro lado, o zagueiro Gabriel Xavier está recuperado de lesão e volta a ser relacionado. O último jogo do […]
Olomouc opouští čtyři útočníci a gólman Sedláček
Spekuluje se o tom, že Knotek by měl posílit prvoligovou Slavii Praha. Káňa se Sedláčkem rovněž prvoligový Zlín a Kohout extraligový Hradec Králové. Musil si prý nové angažmá hledá. „O tom, kde budou v příští sezoně hrát, žádné informace nemám,“ řekl k tomu bez dalších podrobností Schmiedt.Třicetiletý Kohout strávil v olomouckém týmu jednu sezonu, v níž nasbíral v 50 zápasech základní části 13 gólů a 13 asistencí. Extraligu předtím hrál za brněnskou Kometu, a především Karlovy Vary. V nejvyšší soutěži má bilanci 387 utkání, 71 branek a 96 asistencí.O tři roky starší Káňa má za sebou nepovedenou sezonu, v 26 zápasech ani jednou neskóroval a zaznamenal pouze tři asistence. V extralize nastupoval také za Brno a Vítkovice, v 546 utkáních si připsal 98 branek a 145 přihrávek.Sedmatřicetiletý Knotek hrál extraligu jen za Olomouc. V 545 zápasech nastřílel 103 gólů a přidal 114 asistencí. O pět let mladší Musil strávil na Hané tři sezony. Bývalý hráč Plzně, Mladé Boleslavi a Pardubic v extralize absolvoval 449 utkání s bilancí 73 gólů a 113 asistencí.Pětatřicetiletý odchovanec Zlína Sedláček nastoupil v této sezoně do 11 zápasů. […]
Chelsea agree front-of-shirt sponsorship deal with Dubai-based DAMAC Properties for rest of season
DAMAC Properties will be Chelsea’s front-of-shirt sponsor for the remainder of the 2024-25 season — but the agreement will not cover this summer’s Club World Cup.The Emirati property development company will sponsor Chelsea’s shirts for the side’s remaining four Premier League games of the campaign, alongside their Conference League semi-final tie against Swedish club Djurgarden and a potential final in the competition. The men’s team’s semi-final first leg in Stockholm on Thursday will see the debut of the new sponsor.AdvertisementClub sources say a competitive process is continuing for Chelsea’s long-term front-of-shirt sponsor, having not had one yet this season, including potentially one covering their participation in this summer’s Club World Cup. Chelsea will play at least three group games in the tournament, which is taking place in the United States and will run from June 14 through to July 13The […]
Related
Ricardo Rocha ignora Botafogo e crava melhor SAF no Brasil hoje: “Número 1”
Ricardo Rocha, tetracampeão do mundo com o Brasil - Reprodução/YouTube Ricardo Rocha não tem dúvidas de que o modelo SAF aplicado no Bahia seja o melhor do Brasil. Adquirido pelo Grupo City, o Esquadrão tem alcançado uma evolução importante no aspecto esportivo e também administrativo. Na avaliação do ex-zagueiro, o clube nordestino enxugou consideravelmente suas dívidas, cenário este diferente do Botafogo, que possui ainda um grande débito na ‘praça’. PUBLICIDADE PUBLICIDADE “O Bahia é o único time do Nordeste que pode pensar em um título grande. Para mim, é a SAF que mais deu certo no Brasil, número 1. Não é nem o Botafogo com o Textor. Se você pegar o Botafogo, ainda tem dívidas grandes. O Bahia, se não me engano, tem 75% ou mais das suas dívidas pagas”, disse Ricardo Rocha, no programa ‘Galvão e Amigos’. “E o […]
Fußball-Experten kennen ihn – Messi-Kumpel plötzlich Straßen-Musiker
Wir haben personalisierte Videos für dich! Um mit Inhalten von Drittanbietern zu interagieren oder diese darzustellen, brauchen wir deine Zustimmung. externen Inhalt aktivieren Um eingebettete Inhalte anzuzeigen, ist Ihre jederzeit widerrufliche Einwilligung (über den Schalter oder über " Widerruf Tracking und Cookies " am Seitenende) zur Verarbeitung personenbezogener Daten nötig. Dabei können Daten in Drittländer wie die USA übermittelt werden (Art. 49 Abs. 1 lit. a DSGVO). Mit dem Aktivieren des Inhalts stimmen Sie zu. Weitere Infos finden Sie hier.
Europa League semi-final betting: Can Ruben Amorim’s Red Devils topple Athletic Club?
For more stories like this click here to follow The Athletic’s sports betting section and have them added to your feed.The Europa League may be the second-tier continental competition, but the storyline weaving through one of its semi-final clashes is second to none. You would be hard-pressed to find a fixture featuring two sides with less in common than Athletic Club and Manchester United.AdvertisementAthletic are one of the most unique entities in sports. The club has experienced steady success in one of the world’s most competitive leagues despite narrowing their recruiting focus to a specific region in Spain. Over the past decade, United have been the exact opposite. A club with a rich tradition of winning trophies is now best known for an overpaid, underwhelming and ill-fitting group of players.The beauty of football, however, is that you can root with […]
Bahia hoje: Ceni tem três desfalques contra o Paysandu na Copa do Brasil
Rogério Ceni em registro durante treino no Bahia (Letícia Martins - Divulgação) Agitando as emoções da terceira fase na Copa do Brasil, o Bahia visita o Paysandu nesta quarta-feira (30), às 21h30 (de Brasília), no Mangueirão, em choque de ida, buscando trazer um bom resultado na bagagem para o duelo em Salvador, programado para o dia 21 de maio. Passando uma sequência ‘insana’ de jogos, o técnico Rogério Ceni vai promover modificações no time titular, podendo assim dar minutagem para vários jogadores, ao passo que preserva algumas peças, evitando assim problemas físicos mais sérios. PUBLICIDADE PUBLICIDADE Em termos de desfalques, o treinador do Bahia não terá três nomes: Kanu, Santiago Arias e o goleiro Ronaldo, todos entregues ao departamento médico. Por outro lado, o zagueiro Gabriel Xavier está recuperado de lesão e volta a ser relacionado. O último jogo do […]
Olomouc opouští čtyři útočníci a gólman Sedláček
Spekuluje se o tom, že Knotek by měl posílit prvoligovou Slavii Praha. Káňa se Sedláčkem rovněž prvoligový Zlín a Kohout extraligový Hradec Králové. Musil si prý nové angažmá hledá. „O tom, kde budou v příští sezoně hrát, žádné informace nemám,“ řekl k tomu bez dalších podrobností Schmiedt.Třicetiletý Kohout strávil v olomouckém týmu jednu sezonu, v níž nasbíral v 50 zápasech základní části 13 gólů a 13 asistencí. Extraligu předtím hrál za brněnskou Kometu, a především Karlovy Vary. V nejvyšší soutěži má bilanci 387 utkání, 71 branek a 96 asistencí.O tři roky starší Káňa má za sebou nepovedenou sezonu, v 26 zápasech ani jednou neskóroval a zaznamenal pouze tři asistence. V extralize nastupoval také za Brno a Vítkovice, v 546 utkáních si připsal 98 branek a 145 přihrávek.Sedmatřicetiletý Knotek hrál extraligu jen za Olomouc. V 545 zápasech nastřílel 103 gólů a přidal 114 asistencí. O pět let mladší Musil strávil na Hané tři sezony. Bývalý hráč Plzně, Mladé Boleslavi a Pardubic v extralize absolvoval 449 utkání s bilancí 73 gólů a 113 asistencí.Pětatřicetiletý odchovanec Zlína Sedláček nastoupil v této sezoně do 11 zápasů. […]
Chelsea agree front-of-shirt sponsorship deal with Dubai-based DAMAC Properties for rest of season
DAMAC Properties will be Chelsea’s front-of-shirt sponsor for the remainder of the 2024-25 season — but the agreement will not cover this summer’s Club World Cup.The Emirati property development company will sponsor Chelsea’s shirts for the side’s remaining four Premier League games of the campaign, alongside their Conference League semi-final tie against Swedish club Djurgarden and a potential final in the competition. The men’s team’s semi-final first leg in Stockholm on Thursday will see the debut of the new sponsor.AdvertisementClub sources say a competitive process is continuing for Chelsea’s long-term front-of-shirt sponsor, having not had one yet this season, including potentially one covering their participation in this summer’s Club World Cup. Chelsea will play at least three group games in the tournament, which is taking place in the United States and will run from June 14 through to July 13The […]
Be the first to leave a comment