IPL 2025: Andy Flower Hints at His Top Six Picks for RCB, Including Virat Kohli Captaincy Stint and Tim David Position

The excitement for IPL 2025 is already building, as team coaches begin their preparations for the upcoming season. From drafting the perfect playing XI on paper to strategizing for impact players, the groundwork is being laid for what promises to be an exciting tournament.

Andy Flower, the head coach of Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), has already hinted at one of his strategies, particularly regarding his top six batters and potential captain. With key players like Virat Kohli and Rajat Patidar in the mix, Flower's lineup could take shape in fascinating ways. Read on to discover more about his potential picks and leadership plans for RCB this season.

Is Virat Kohli Returning as the Captain?

When Andy Flower was asked about the potential leadership role, he expressed scepticism in his response. He suggested that it would be a better move for Virat Kohli to take on the leadership position. If not Kohli, he believes that Rajat Patidar would be a better choice for captaincy at this moment. However, he mentioned that communication regarding the captaincy has not yet begun, and they are still waiting for the right time to have this conversation.

When asked about the captaincy decision, 

Flower remarked, ‘You’ll have to wait for the final decision. We are stepping into a fresh phase, the start of a three-year journey, and I believe the anticipation will only grow as we progress,” he said.

Andy Flower's Top 6 Batters

Andy Flower expressed confidence in the team he has this season with the Royal Challengers Bengaluru. He believes the team is well-balanced and that all the necessary components have been addressed to create a strong line-up. Additionally, he hinted at his Top 6 batters for this season, emphasizing that this line-up has the perfect balance. 

Here are the Top 6 batters that Andy Flower mentioned for RCB:

1)Virat Kohli

2)Phil Salt

3)Rajat Patidar

4)Liam Livingston

5)Jitesh Sharma

6)Tim David 

This Top Six looks promising on paper, featuring stars such as Virat Kohli, who gradually increases his strike rate and often excels in the later stages of the innings. Phit Salt is an aggressive batter who attacks right from the first ball, while Rajat Patidar can help rebuild the innings in case of a mini-collapse, boasting an impressive strike rate against spinners during the middle overs.

Following them are big hitter Liam Livingstone and finishers Jithesh Sharma and Tim David, who are well-equipped to take advantage of the scoring opportunities in the death overs, especially in the batting paradise that is Chinnaswamy Stadium. After many years, RCB seems to have a balanced batting order that not only can thrive but also score big totals on board.