Inside RCB’s winning machine: The masterminds behind back-to-back IPL titles

Royal Challengers Bengaluru beat Gujarat Titans in IPL 2026 final to win back-to-back trophies. (AP) TimesofIndia.com in Ahmedabad: IPL trophies are won on the field, but championship dynasties are built in boardrooms, auction tables and strategic meetings.Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s (RCB) historic title triumphs are the result of a vision that extended far beyond the playing XI. From Andy Flower’s tactical flair and Mo Bobat’s long-term planning to Dinesh Karthik’s player management and Malolan Rangarajan’s talent identification, the executive team behind the scenes has quietly crafted one of the most successful phases in the franchise’s history.On Sunday, Rajat Patidar-led RCB beat Gujarat Titans by five wickets at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.TimesofIndia.com brings you the men behind RCB’s winning machine:Andy Flower (Head Coach)

Andy Flower appointed as head coach of RCB ahead of IPL 2024. (ANI)

The turnaround for RCB started when they appointed Andy Flower as head coach ahead of IPL 2024 and he delivered two IPL titles in three years.Andy Flower is probably the best coach in modern cricket. He has mastered all three formats and his resume is extraordinary. He transformed a struggling England side into a world-class line-up, overseeing three Ashes victories (2009, 2010-11 and 2013), England’s first global T20 World Cup title in 2010 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 winners’ campaign before guiding Trent Rockets to The Hundred in 2022 and RCB to their first IPL crown in 2025.RCB captain Rajat Patidar also hailed Flower and called him the greatest of all time.“He is one of the best coaches, I feel, because of the way he treats the players, not just the players who are playing. I think the players who are not playing and the new players who are playing their first IPL season are equally important to him. He has spent a lot of time with each individual. So, you know, I have no 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 joined RCB as Director of Cricket ahead of IPL 2024, bringing with him more than a decade of experience at the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB). As England men’s chief executive, he played a key role in building the talent pool that contributed to the country’s ODI and T20 World Cup triumphs, while also helping to reinvigorate the Test side under Ben Stokes and Brendan McCullum. Bobat 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 to be crucial.“Obviously we’re pleased that several people contributed to the wins. We had a number of guys who stepped up with both the bat and the 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 a really pleasing thing,” Bobat said.“And if we do it often enough and if everyone contributes and fulfills their roles, the results should take care of themselves,” Bobat explained of his philosophy.Dinesh Karthik (mentor and batting coach)

In Dinesh Karthik, the young members of the RCB squad have found an elder brother to turn to for guidance. (OR)

After last year’s IPL, RCB wicketkeeper-batsman Jitesh Sharma credited Dinesh Karthik for the transformation in his game.“What no one ever saw in me, that man saw in me. Everyone else was looking for flaws in me, but that man saw my strengths,” Jitesh 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 given the opportunity, Venkatesh scored an unbeaten 73 batting at No. 4 in Patidar’s absence due to concussion. Since then he has become a regular member of the team.

RCB coaching team after IPL 2026 title. (Image: X)

In Dinesh Karthik, many Indian players have found an elder brother figure, something that was missing in the RCB dressing room earlier.“When you are a coach, the dynamic is very different. I am more than happy to see if I get an opportunity to make an impact while playing,” Karthik told TimesofIndia.com during the ILT20.Malolan Rangarajan (Spinning Coach, Player Identification Manager and RCB Women’s Head Coach)

Malolan Rangarajan is the head coach of RCB’s WPL team and scouts 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 foundations. Rangarajan, a former Tamil Nadu off-spinner, has become one of the most respected talent scouts in Indian cricket. As RCB’s head of scouting and fielding coach, he has played a key role in identifying and nurturing players who fit the franchise’s long-term plans rather than just chasing star names.Known for his keen eye for talent and deep understanding of domestic cricket, Rangarajan has helped bolster RCB’s squad depth and ensured the franchise has a stable supply of players ready to step up when needed. His influence extends beyond recruiting, his work on the field helping to 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 instrumental in helping RCB assemble a balanced, resilient team 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 cricket landscape at a much deeper level and identifies talent that might otherwise go unnoticed.Omkar Salvi (bowling coach)

RCB’s bowling performance has stood out in the IPL 2026 campaign. Omkar Salvi is the bowling coach. (OR)

After winning the title, captain Rajat Patidar was full of praise for bowling coach Omkar Salvi for transforming the RCB attack.“I have known Omkar Salvi sir since I started playing my first Ranji Trophy season,” Patidar said.

What do you think is the biggest reason for RCB’s success?

“I’ve watched him closely ever since. He spent a lot of one-on-one time with each bowler. I would say there was a lot of hard work in the way Sir Salvi worked with the team. We don’t always get to see what’s going on in the meeting room when he’s talking to the players. He spent a lot of time with them individually and I think that really helped each bowler.”