Royal Challengers Bengaluru head coach Andy Flower revealed that the team allowed its batters to decide whether to fully chase down the massive target against Sunrisers Hyderabad or focus on securing the top spot in the league standings.
RCB lost the match by 55 runs while chasing 255, but their final score was enough to maintain a superior net run-rate and finish at the top of the table. Flower said the team had discussed multiple scenarios during the innings, including the scores needed to secure a top-two finish and the number required to confirm first place.
According to Flower, the initial plan was to attempt the full chase, but the batters were also asked to assess the match situation and decide how aggressively to approach the target. He praised Venkatesh Iyer for providing momentum at the top of the order with a quickfire 44 off 19 balls.
Flower also applauded Iyer’s professionalism and attitude throughout the season, highlighting how the batter stayed prepared despite limited opportunities. He noted that Iyer worked hard in training and delivered whenever called upon.
Meanwhile, SRH head coach Daniel Vettori said the pitch behaved largely as expected and felt RCB’s dropped catches helped SRH post a bigger total than anticipated. He also credited SRH’s aggressive opening approach for successfully attacking RCB pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar during the Powerplay.
