RCB Coach Flower Unfazed by SRH Game Lapse: Sees Week Break as "Healthy"

Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh), India - On May 22nd (ANI report): The head coach of Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), Andy Flower, stated that his team remains unfazed regarding the relocation of their match against Sunrisers Hyderabad from their usual venue, M Chinnaswamy Stadium, to Lucknow’s Ekana Stadium scheduled for this Friday.

Recently, the IPL announced that the match between SRH and RCB has been relocated to Lucknow due to unfavorable weather conditions in Bengaluru. Despite losing their home ground advantage during this crucial phase of the group stage, Flower expresses his disappointment at not playing against SRH on familiar territory. However, he remains focused rather than fixating on the limited practice time before the game, as securing a spot among the top four in the playoff race takes precedence.

"We are clearly let down about not being able to play tomorrow’s game in Bangalore, but we’ve had to adapt to this situation too. Our team practiced in Bangalore earlier today during lunch, after which we traveled here. We plan to conduct a brief training session later tonight and will ensure we’re prepared for the match tomorrow," stated Flower prior to the game.

As you're aware, we faced some challenges when we first played under our own conditions because the pitch was somewhat unfamiliar to us. It took us some time to adapt our strategy based on the characteristics of this particular pitch. Once we made those adjustments, however, we managed to win several crucial matches at home. Additionally, we've maintained a strong performance record during away games. Our team has shown great flexibility in adapting to various away environments, which is why I'm confident they will perform just as effectively tomorrow. Therefore, we feel comfortable playing here in Lucknow,” he concluded.

Since the restart of the tournament after a one-week pause caused by cross-border tensions between India and Pakistan, RCB hasn't taken part in any deliveries. They were set to resume their campaign at home against the reigning champions, Kolkata Knight Riders. Nevertheless, heavy rainfall in Bengaluru led to the abandonment of the game before even a single ball was delivered.

Flower isn’t worried about the lack of playing time and practice. He views this break as beneficial, noting that captain Rajat Patidar had ample opportunities to regain his fitness following a significant injury. Similarly, Phil Salt, who battled illness for some time, used this period to recuperate fully at home before returning stronger than ever.

"I'm not overly worried about that. The team has performed exceptionally well throughout the whole season leading up to the opening game, and their consistent performances across all formats have been impressive. While we do need a short rest, this downtime will be beneficial for several of our players. For instance, Rajat Patidar’s right hand had enough recovery time following an intense blow, so he should be ready to bat when needed," he stated.

"Salt was unwell for some time, which provided an opportunity for him to return home briefly. He has since replenished his energy reserves and is now fully revitalized. Certainly, both the competitors and our supporters wished for everything to proceed according to schedule; however, more significant matters took precedence, forcing us to adapt accordingly," he explained. (ANI)

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