TimesofIndia.com in Ahmedabad: IPL trophies are won on the field, but championship dynasties are built in boardrooms, auction tables and strategy meetings.Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s (RCB) historic back-to-back title triumphs are the result of a vision that extended far beyond the playing XI. From Andy Flower‘s tactical acumen and Mo Bobat’s long-term planning to Dinesh Karthik‘s player management and Malolan Rangarajan’s talent identification, a powerful backroom team quietly engineered one of the most successful phases in the franchise’s history. On Sunday, the Rajat Patidar-led RCB defeated Gujarat Titans by five wickets at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.TimesofIndia.com brings you the men behind RCB’s winning machinery:Andy Flower (Head Coach)
Andy Flower was appointed RCB Head Coach ahead of IPL 2024. (ANI)
The turnaround for RCB started when they appointed Andy Flower as head coach before IPL 2024, and in three years, he has delivered two IPL titles.Andy Flower is probably the greatest coach in modern cricket. He has mastered all three formats and his résumé is extraordinary. He transformed a struggling England side into a world-beating outfit, overseeing three Ashes victories (2009, 2010-11 and 2013), England’s maiden global title at the 2010 T20 World Cup and a historic Test series win in India in 2012, their first in 28 years. Flower later served as a consultant to Australia’s 2023 ODI World Cup-winning campaign before guiding Trent Rockets to The Hundred title in 2022 and RCB to their maiden IPL crown in 2025.RCB skipper Rajat Patidar also hailed Flower, calling him the greatest of all time.“He is one of the best coaches, I feel, because of the way he handles players, not only the players who are playing. I think, for him, the players who are not playing and the new players who are playing their first IPL season are equally important. He spent a lot of time with every individual. So, you know, I don’t have words for him, but he is the best coach I have played under.”Mo Bobat (Director of Cricket)
Mo Bobat (R) is the Director of Cricket at Royal Challengers Bengaluru. (PTI)
Mo Bobat arrived at RCB as Director of Cricket ahead of IPL 2024, bringing with him over a decade of experience at the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB). As England Men’s Performance Director, he played a key role in building the talent pipeline that contributed to the country’s ODI and T20 World Cup triumphs, while also helping revive the Test side under Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum. Bobat had previously worked with RCB as a consultant.After RCB’s win over GT in Qualifier 1, Bobat spoke about the number of match-winners in the team, which ultimately proved pivotal.“We are obviously pleased that we’ve got a number of people contributing to wins. We had a number of guys who stood up with both bat and ball. And you need that to go far in competitions. We’re not too dependent on one or two players with the bat or one or two with the ball. And that’s the really pleasing thing,” Bobat had said.“And if we do that often enough, and if everybody contributes and fulfils their roles, the results should take care of themselves,” Bobat explained his philosophy.Dinesh Karthik (Mentor and Batting Coach)
In Dinesh Karthik, young RCB squad members have found an elder brother to turn to for guidance. (ANI)
After last year’s IPL, RCB wicketkeeper-batter Jitesh Sharma credited Dinesh Karthik for the transformation in his game.“Jo kisi ne mere andar aaj tak nahi dekhi wo us insaan ne mere andar dekha. Sab logon ne mere mein khaamiyan dhoondi, but us aadmi ne mere mein khoobi dekhi (What no one had ever seen inside me, that person saw within me. Everyone else looked for flaws in me, but that man saw my strengths),” Jitesh had told TimesofIndia.com.This year, it was Venkatesh Iyer, who worked closely with Karthik behind the scenes when he was not getting game time. When he got his opportunity, Venkatesh scored an unbeaten 73 while batting at No. 4 in Patidar’s absence due to concussion. From then on, he became a regular in the side.
RCB coaching staff after the IPL 2026 title. (Image: X)
In Dinesh Karthik, many Indian players found an elder brother figure, something that was previously missing in the RCB dressing room.“When you’re a coach, the dynamic is very different. I’m more than happy to see if, while playing, I get the opportunity to influence somebody,” Karthik had told TimesofIndia.com during the ILT20.Malolan Rangarajan (Spin Bowling Coach, Player Identification Manager and RCB Women’s Head Coach)
Malolan Rangarajan is the head coach of RCB’s WPL team and the scout and spin bowling coach for the men’s team. (Image: X)
If Andy Flower and Mo Bobat shaped RCB’s vision, Malolan Rangarajan helped build its foundation. A former Tamil Nadu off-spinner, Rangarajan has emerged as one of the most respected talent scouts in Indian cricket. As RCB’s head of scouting and fielding coach, he has played a pivotal role in identifying and nurturing players who fit the franchise’s long-term plans rather than simply chasing star names.Known for his sharp eye for talent and deep understanding of domestic cricket, Rangarajan has been instrumental in strengthening RCB’s squad depth, ensuring the franchise has a steady pipeline of players ready to step up when required. His influence extends beyond recruitment, with his work in the fielding department helping raise the team’s athletic standards. While the spotlight often falls on marquee players and high-profile coaches, Rangarajan’s contributions behind the scenes have been crucial in helping RCB assemble a balanced, resilient squad capable of winning back-to-back IPL titles.Malolan Rangarajan is also the head coach of the RCB women’s team. He has been at the forefront of the hinterland scouting initiative, a method that explores the Indian cricketing landscape at a much deeper level and identifies talents that might otherwise have remained unnoticed.Omkar Salvi (Bowling Coach)
RCB’s bowling performance stood out in the IPL 2026 campaign. Omkar Salvi is the team’s bowling coach. (ANI)
After winning the title, captain Rajat Patidar was full of praise for bowling coach Omkar Salvi for transforming RCB’s attack.“I have known Omkar Salvi sir since I started playing my first Ranji Trophy season,” said Patidar.
What do you think is the biggest reason behind RCB’s success?
“Since then, I have been watching him closely. He spent a lot of time one-on-one with every bowler. There was a lot of hard work, I would say, in the way Salvi sir worked with the team. We cannot always see what happens in the meeting room when he is talking to players. He spent a lot of time individually with them, and I think that really helped every bowler.”
