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#IPL #RCB #coach #Flower #confident #allweather #bowling #attack #thrive #conditions">IPL 2026: RCB coach Flower confident ‘all-weather’ bowling attack can thrive in all conditions Tone-setting batting performances in the PowerPlay are non-negotiable to success in T20 cricket. But Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) also excels in something else – taking bucketloads of wickets in the first six overs to peg its opponents back.
In the previous match, RCB had Delhi Capitals at eight for six in 3.5 overs, with Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Josh Hazlewood wreaking havoc.
“We’ve been very good at taking PowerPlay wickets, and we did that well last season also,” said head coach Andy Flower, ahead of the encounter against Gujarat Titans.
“[Against DC], things came together so quickly and so well that the game was over in the blink of an eye. It was great to watch those two greats, Bhuvi and Hazlewood, bowl.”
Thursday’s contest, in Flower’s own words, will be on a surface “that plays well”. But the former Zimbabwe captain said that RCB had an all-weather attack.
“We’re playing on a 75 per cent red-soil pitch. It’s the same that we played the final on last year. But we’re comfortable with whatever conditions are put in front of us.”
Flower also stated that it was important to forget that RCB had six wins in eight games and start afresh. “It’s really important that philosophically you don’t try to hold on to stuff. It’s better to embrace the vagaries and the unpredictability of the game.”
GT too has a capable set of bowlers, and assistant coach Parthiv Patel, like Flower, opined that the pitch wouldn’t matter.
“We are well-rounded with our bowling options,” the former India wicket-keeper said. “We had Manav Suthar bowl. There is the option of Washington Sundar, and there’s Rashid Khan.
“So, we have seven bowlers [along with Mohammed Siraj, Kagiso Rabada, Jason Holder, Prasidh Krishna / Arshad Khan] who can bowl four overs each. It’s not like we have to make do with part-time bowlers.”
Published on Apr 29, 2026
Tone-setting batting performances in the PowerPlay are non-negotiable to success in T20 cricket. But Royal…
Sports news
#RCB #IPL #Hitting #hard #length #strength #Josh #Hazlewood">RCB vs DC, IPL 2026: Hitting the hard length has been my strength, says Josh Hazlewood
In a format which places high value on variations and innovations, Josh Hazlewood has stuck to the tried and trusted.
The Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) fast bowler revels in honing in on a hard length, making it tough for batters to get under and slog.
This classical approach has worked well not just in the two IPL matches he has played thus far, but in the previous season as well.
Now back to full fitness, Hazlewood is a natural fit as leader of the RCB attack.
“We see different bowlers in our group have different styles, so I try to copy a different ball here and there. But at the same time, you first and foremost rely on your strengths. Obviously, my strength is hitting the length, and hitting it hard. It’s not about floating the ball up; it’s not about digging it in. It is about making it hard for the batter to hit me off that length,” Hazlewood said on the eve of RCB’s game against Delhi Capitals.
RELATED | Delhi Capitals looks to stop marauding Royal Challengers Bengaluru
The 35-year-old is doubly dangerous if the pitch is not a batting beauty, as seen in RCB’s fixture against Lucknow Super Giants here on Wednesday.
“The other night, the pitch actually helped a little bit. It was hard to time the ball; the pitch was a bit up-and-down. If you’re on a nice glassy pitch and everything’s coming onto the bat nicely, then things have to change, and you try a few different things,” Hazlewood said.
Published on Apr 17, 2026
In a format which places high value on variations and innovations, Josh Hazlewood has stuck to the tried and trusted.
The Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) fast bowler revels in honing in on a hard length, making it tough for batters to get under and slog.
This classical approach has worked well not just in the two IPL matches he has played thus far, but in the previous season as well.
Now back to full fitness, Hazlewood is a natural fit as leader of the RCB attack.
“We see different bowlers in our group have different styles, so I try to copy a different ball here and there. But at the same time, you first and foremost rely on your strengths. Obviously, my strength is hitting the length, and hitting it hard. It’s not about floating the ball up; it’s not about digging it in. It is about making it hard for the batter to hit me off that length,” Hazlewood said on the eve of RCB’s game against Delhi Capitals.
RELATED | Delhi Capitals looks to stop marauding Royal Challengers Bengaluru
The 35-year-old is doubly dangerous if the pitch is not a batting beauty, as seen in RCB’s fixture against Lucknow Super Giants here on Wednesday.
“The other night, the pitch actually helped a little bit. It was hard to time the ball; the pitch was a bit up-and-down. If you’re on a nice glassy pitch and everything’s coming onto the bat nicely, then things have to change, and you try a few different things,” Hazlewood said.
Published on Apr 17, 2026
In a format which places high value on variations and innovations, Josh Hazlewood has stuck…