What an unbelievable couple of years it has been for RCB. Looking back at the 2024 season,  they were really struggling, and Andy Flower and Mo Bobat were trying to find a way  through that difficult period. 

Ironically, that struggle may have given them the freedom to make bigger and more  impactful decisions. Had they been winning a few, losing a few, and simply muddling along,  there might not have been the same opportunity for major change. Instead, it felt like a  rise-from-the-ashes moment — things had reached a point where it was time to make bold  calls. The clarity that emerged from those decisions has been evident over the last year or  two. 

They clearly have an outstanding management group with a very clear way of thinking. One  thing I often look for during games is who is doing all the talking and who is doing the  listening. Very often, Andy Flower and Patidar are not the loudest voices. They are excellent  thinkers about the game, but they are also excellent listeners, and that combination tends  to lead to good decisions. 

The group appears to have a healthy balance of passionate players who contribute ideas  and knowledge, alongside others who listen and absorb. Together, they seem to produce  very effective plans, creating what looks like a special environment. 

What’s particularly striking is that when you consider the dominance RCB have shown over  the last couple of years, you might expect it to have come from some of their previous sides  that featured a top-heavy batting order and several superstar players. Instead, it has come  from this group, which makes their success even more remarkable. 

Virat Kohli has obviously played a major role. He still has a tremendous passion for the  game, and that passion has allowed him to continue refining and evolving his game even at  this stage of his career. Despite everything he has already achieved, he appears to have  been inspired by younger players who have pushed the format in new directions through  higher strike rates and a more aggressive approach. He has embraced those lessons and  added them to his own game. 

That may sound obvious, but when a player has achieved what Kohli has over such a long  period, adapting in that way is a special quality. He came from an era where the emphasis  was on valuing your wicket and never giving it away. Today’s players still value their  wickets, but they are often willing to take greater risks in pursuit of strike rates and  attacking intent. It can take time for great players from a different generation to adapt to  that mindset, but that is exactly what Kohli has done.

The result is a player who has combined an already outstanding game with modern  demands, making him one of the finest players in this format and certainly in this  competition. 

The squad itself has also been assembled intelligently. Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Josh  Hazlewood bring not only quality but also experience, particularly in setting the tone early  in games. A couple of years ago, the spin department might have been viewed as a potential  weakness, with Krunal Pandya and Suyash Sharma. However, that concern has largely  disappeared. Krunal, in particular, has been outstanding with both bat and ball. 

Rajat Patidar remains calm, listens well and makes informed decisions, while the  environment around the team appears to support those qualities. Importantly, success in a  tournament like the IPL is not just about the starting XI. Injuries, form and other factors  mean that squad depth becomes crucial. 

That depth has been evident throughout the season. Players have come in and out of the  side, yet replacements have been ready to perform when called upon. Whether it was Phil  Salt, Jacob Bethell or others stepping into key moments, the players appeared prepared and  confident. That readiness reflects the environment they have spent weeks immersed in. 

Mo Bobat, as Director of Cricket, deserves recognition as well. Having done strong work  with England previously, he is someone who seems to be constantly planning ahead. There  is an ambition within the setup that goes beyond simply enjoying success. Even after one  achievement, the focus quickly shifts to the next. 

That mindset has helped create confidence throughout the squad. RCB possess tremendous  depth, and that depth allows players higher up the order to play with instinct and freedom,  knowing there are capable players behind them. 

Within all great teams, there is a belief that someone will step up and produce a match winning performance. That belief appears to have run through this RCB side for the last  year or more. Crucially, it has not developed into overconfidence or arrogance. It remains  confidence, and much of the credit for that balance goes back to the management and the  environment they have created. 

There is a great deal for other sporting teams to learn from the way this RCB side has been  built and the way it functions.