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Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) head coach and a legend of Zimbabwe cricket, Andy Flower, had admitted that there were definite differences between their IPL 2025 and IPL 2026 campaigns. In both of the seasons, RCB emerged as the champions, but there were some differences.
While Andy Flower was explaining the differences between the two seasons, he mentioned IPL 2024, which was the season when the team was going through a transition phase.
RCB head coach explains the differences between IPL 2025 and IPL 2026 campaigns
RCB remains at the helm of the Indian Premier League as they defended their title successfully under the leadership of Rajat Patidar. Ahead of the IPL 2026 players’ auction, the franchise kept the core of the squad untouched, retaining most of the players from the 2025 set-up.
Andy Flower mentioned that the 2024 campaign gave them a reality check. After the first half of the IPL 2024 season, they had clarity on their strategic approach. As they had the clarity, they were able to take some quick steps with extra courage.
“Definite differences between 2025 and 2026 campaigns. But I would also mention the 2024 season, because that was instrumental in setting our determination to do things a little bit differently. The very tough first half of 2024 gave us real clarity about certain strategic things that we wanted to employ, and it gave us the courage, almost through desperation, to take those measures,” the head coach said.
On paper, every department of the team was looking well sorted ahead of the 2025 season, but there was tension as the team had never claimed the trophy before. Even when the team gradually moved into the play-offs and then the final, the tension and the uncertainty remained around the Royal Challengers Bengaluru.
There was tension and uncertainty in 2025
In a close-fought contest, RCB defeated the Punjab Kings, led by Shreyas Iyer, and lifted the IPL trophy for the first time since the inception of the franchise league.
“And then we’ve had 2025, where we were walking into the unknown a little, as RCB had never won the title before. So, there was a lot of tension and uncertainty around getting into the playoffs and then obviously lifting the trophy,” Flower stated.
This year has felt a little bit different: Andy Flower
After winning the maiden title, the team gained much confidence, and they got the much-needed mojo that they had been missing for years before the IPL 2026 season. The path to the IPL 2026 final was never easy, but the players and the entire franchise had the belief that they could do it again, as they did in the previous season.
“This year has felt a little bit different. I think there’s a deeper level of confidence in our squad. So, that deeper level of confidence after lifting last year’s trophy certainly made this year feel slightly different. It didn’t make it any easier, but certainly going into the playoffs, there was a deeper level of confidence,” he added.
