Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) captain Rajat Patidar gave credit to the coaching staff’s unsung hero Omkar Salvi after team’s second consecutive Indian Premier League (IPL) title. Patidar praised Salvi for spending one-on-one time with bowlers instead of being present in the meeting room.
"I've seen Omkar Salvi sir from my first Ranji season [in 2015]. He spends lot of time one-on-one with every bowler. There is a lot of hard work that Salvi sir has done for the team. You won't see him in the meeting room, he spends time one-on-one with the bowlers," Patidar said in the post-match press conference.
Former Mumbai Ranji team head coach, Salvi joined as RCB's bowling coach in November 2024. He was included in the coaching staff after Mumbai won the Ranji Trophy and the Irani Trophy in the previous domestic season.
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RCB pace attack’s sensational numbers
Under Salvi, RCB’s pace attack has gone from strength to strength. While Josh Hazlewood claimed 15 wickets from 13 games, Rasikh Salam went on to become the seventh-highest wicket-taker in IPL 2026. Salam claimed 19 wickets from 12 games at an average of 21.31. He claimed three wickets in the final at Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad.
Also, New Zealand pacer Jacob Duffy did well in his maiden IPL season, claiming nine wickets from six appearances at an average of 29.22.
RCB's most experienced pacer, Bhuvneshwar Kumar missed the purple cap by a whisker. Bhuvneshwar bagged 28 wickets at an average of 17.89. His economy rate of 7.95 runs per over in batting-friendly conditions has been exceptional.
Patidar hails Flower
The 33-year-old also praised head coach Andy Flower for how he handles the young talent, eve those who are not part of the playing eleven. He called the former Zimbabwe wicketkeeper-batter the best coach he has played under. He credited the coaching staff for a shift in culture in last half a decade which led to two IPL title wins.
"I've played five seasons of the IPL and he is one of the best coaches," Patidar said. "The way he handles players, not only those who play. For him the players who aren't playing, the first-timers, he spends a lot of time with every individual. I don't have words to express, but he's the best coach I've played under.
"The [team] culture has changed. I don't know what it was before 2021. But from when I've come in, there have been a lot of changes in the mindset of players. All credit to the coaching staff, the way they've been handling the players. Especially the new players who are also an important part of the team. The coaching staff treats every player equally - that's a big change."
Patidar doesn’t want to stop at two. He wants RCB to make it three in a row before the next mega auction.