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The IPL Pause That Changed Everything for Royal Challengers Bengaluru
The Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) Head Coach Andy Flower revealed that the sudden halt of IPL 2025, codenamed "Operation Sindoor," served as that very key event leading to the final push towards their historic first IPL championship.
After RCB had lifted the coveted trophy, Flower spoke forthrightly with the media about how the week-long break—imposed by the heightened geopolitical tensions—gave the team "breathing space" to rest and recover key injured players.
‘Operation Sindoor’ Saved RCB's IPL Season, Admits Coach
‘Operation Sindoor’ consists of precision strikes by India on terror bases, an event that caused an emergency situation on May 9 in which the IPL 2025 season was halted for a week. While the entire nation rallied for the inspiration of its armed forces, the RCB, who had been a bit "slow off the blocks" before the suspension, had been surely saved at that philosophical time.
This break turned out to be crucial to the recovery of two almost pivotal players: the captain, Rajat Patidar, whose recovery was impeded by a finger injury, and the bowling spearhead, Hazlewood, whose return from a shoulder injury was made possible after he had undergone long and sustained rehab and workouts in Australia.
The RCB's leading wicket-taker with a total of 22 wickets from only 12 matches, Hazlewood emphasized the impact the break had: "Even this evening while we were celebrating, a couple of guys mentioned to me that the break gave Hazlewood time to recover, and crucially, it gave Rajat time to recover with his hand."
Patidar sat out for a couple of games because of the injury but came back and made major contributions, scoring 312 runs in 15 matches at an excellent strike rate of 143.77.
Coach Flower Hails Patidar's Composed Leadership Amidst High Pressure
Flower heaped praise on Patidar, not only for his batting skills but also for his calm and composed leadership in this, his first season as captain. "I think one of the most impressive things about what Rajat has done this year is that, as an inexperienced captain, he hasn't let it affect him. I don't think it has impacted his batting at all," Flower said.
He further went on to commend Patidar for maintaining his gentle and pleasant demeanor, regardless of the scathing scrutiny and pressure attached to leading a star-studded franchise: "You can't underestimate the calmness he showed in leading a star-studded franchise. He made good decisions under immense pressure, and that deserves a lot of respect."
Flower acknowledged the positive impact of the break but also said it was unfortunate that Tim David and Devdutt Padikkal were not in the original squad, teaching that they were very important to the whole campaign: "They were huge parts of our campaign."
Eighteen Years Awaited: RCB's Destiny Forged in an Unexpected Break
For the believers in fate, "Operation Sindoor" has become an inseparable chapter in RCB's fairytale story. An unforeseen interruption, prompted by a serious national security issue, allowed RCB to overcome their struggles, heal, and rebuild their team. This crucial break ultimately helped them fulfill their long-cherished IPL title aspirations.
Much like the pivotal pauses in Second World War legends, this unforeseen stoppage closely aligned with their eventual triumph.
After an 18-year wait, the Royal Challengers Bengaluru are proud holders of the IPL trophy, and a big chunk of that success is admitted to be due to the breathing space given by "Operation Sindoor" by their head coach.