New Delhi: Skipper Rajat Patidar and opener Phil Salt have benefitted from Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s extended break from action in IPL 2025 to recover from injuries and become fit to play in the play-offs, head coach Andy Flower said on Thursday.
Patidar sustained a finger injury in their home game against Chennai Super Kings before IPL’s temporary suspension because of the Indo-Pak military conflict.
“Rajat Patidar for one has given his right hand a little bit of time to settle after getting quite a bad knock. So, he is fit to bat, which is great,” Flower said.
“(Opener Phil) Salt was sick for a while, so it (the break) has given him a little chance to get home. He has recharged his batteries and he is back at full force.
“Of course, everyone in the competition and all our fans would have wanted the competition to play out as planned, but bigger things were at hand and we have had to roll with that,” he added.
RCB are second on the points table and have qualified for the play-offs but last played on May 3 and woukd next play on Friday against Sunrisers Hyderabad after their match against KKR on May 17 was abandoned.
“We are not too concerned about that (break). I think the boys have worked really well over the entire season and they have played some superb cricket throughout the season. Yes, a little break now, but for a couple of our players that has actually been a healthy thing,” Flower said.
RCB’s game against SRH was shifted to Lucknow from their home of M Chinnaswamy due to an inclement weather forecast in Bengaluru, where they have won all their six games so far.
“We are obviously disappointed not to be playing tomorrow’s game in Bengaluru. As you know, we struggled in our home conditions initially, and we took a little while to adjust our game plan according to the pitch and we did adjust it and won a couple of important games at home,” the former Zimbabwe batter said.
“We have got a good record away. We have been able to flex for the away conditions really well, so I am backing our players to do that again tomorrow. So, we are okay playing here in Lucknow,” he added.
RCB skipper Rajat Patidar sustained a finger injury while Phil Salt had been sick before IPL 2025’s temporary suspension. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
