RCB Team Director Mo Bobat on IPL Goals and Strategy for 2025

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Focus on Aggressive Playstyle and Winning Culture

Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) have long sought their first Indian Premier League (IPL) title. According to team director Mo Bobat, the goal remains winning the tournament, but the focus is on creating a culture of aggressive cricket. Since taking over in 2023, Bobat and head coach Andy Flower have emphasized a fearless playstyle.

Bobat stated, “Winning the IPL is our target, but the way we play is our obsession.” This philosophy was reflected in RCB’s player retention and auction strategy, aimed at building a strong Indian core and ensuring depth in the squad.

• Primary goal: Winning the IPL title.
• Core focus: Establishing a competitive, aggressive cricket identity.
• Emphasis on an experienced and well-rounded Indian core.

Strategic Retentions and Auction Dynamics

RCB retained three key Indian players this season, a first for the franchise. The management prioritized spending on first-choice XI players over assembling a large squad. This approach aimed to enhance the team’s quality and ensure a balanced Indian core with leadership experience.

Bobat acknowledged that retaining experienced Indian players like Virat Kohli and strengthening bowling and batting depth were central to their plan. He explained, “We avoided overspending on one player to ensure better squad balance.”

Notable Retentions:

1. Virat Kohli – Senior player and key batter.
2. Other experienced Indian talents to bolster the core.

Auction Highlights:

• Focus on role-specific players using a mix of data and scouting insights.
• Preference for power hitters and bowlers with versatility across match phases.

Aggression as the Game Plan

RCB’s revamped strategy focuses on maintaining aggression throughout innings. In the 2024 IPL, the team improved their performance by emphasizing power hitting during the middle overs. Players like Will Jacks and Rajat Patidar were instrumental in this approach.

Bobat believes modern T20 cricket demands sustained attacking play. “There’s no room for consolidation unless conditions dictate it,” he said. This year, RCB has invested in power hitters and deepened their batting lineup to maintain this momentum.

Core Aggression Features:

• Encouraging players to embrace risks without fear of failure.
• Depth in batting order with players like Rajat Patidar, Liam Livingstone, and Jitesh Sharma.
• A balanced approach to ensure multiple contributors share responsibilities.

Virat Kohli’s Role and Leadership

Virat Kohli’s aggressive batting in 2024 set the tone for RCB’s new strategy. Mid-season, Kohli inspired his teammates to play with greater intent. Bobat praised Kohli’s leadership, saying, “He led by example and backed his words with action.”

For 2025, the management trusts Kohli’s adaptability and sees no need for him to drop anchor. Instead, the aim is to maximize every delivery, leveraging the collective power of the batting lineup.

Kohli’s Key Contributions:

• Role-modeling aggression in batting.
• Collaborating with management to align auction and retention strategies.

Bowling Strategy Tailored for High-Scoring Chinnaswamy

Playing home games at the high-scoring M. Chinnaswamy Stadium presents unique challenges for RCB’s bowlers. To counter this, the franchise targeted bowlers skilled across all match phases. Experienced bowlers like Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Josh Hazlewood were key acquisitions.

Bobat emphasized the need for bowlers with resilience and ability to perform under pressure. “We’ve invested in bowlers who can take wickets upfront and deliver at the death,” he noted.

Bowling Lineup Focus:

• Versatility in phases: powerplay, middle overs, and death.
• Spin options with Krunal Pandya and Suyash Sharma providing variety.
• Missed out on Yuzvendra Chahal but secured strong backups.

Missed Opportunities and Tough Decisions

RCB faced tough decisions in the auction, including the loss of long-time players like Mohammed Siraj and the high-profile bidding war for Venkatesh Iyer. While the franchise stretched budgets for key targets, they maintained discipline to avoid compromising overall team balance.

Bobat explained, “The auction is like poker; you take risks, but you can’t overspend on one player.” Despite missing some targets, RCB remains confident in their squad composition.

Notable Misses:

• Mohammed Siraj: Tough call due to budget constraints.
• Yuzvendra Chahal: Pulled out after exceeding budget.

Looking Ahead to IPL 2025

For RCB, the journey to their first IPL title continues with optimism and determination. The franchise is committed to their competitive identity of aggressive cricket, trusting that results will follow.

Bobat concluded, “The way we play is as important as winning. If we stay true to our approach, success will come.” Fans will be watching closely to see if this strategy finally breaks RCB’s IPL drought.