Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) head coach Andy Flower credited ‘Operation Sindoor’ - a series of precision strikes by India on nine terror bases in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir in response to the deadly April 22 Pahalgam terrorist attack - for his team’s IPL title thriumph at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Tuesday. RCB beat Punjab Kings by 6 runs to win the trophy for the first time.

The tensions between India and Pakistan along the northern and western Line of Actual Control (LOC) turned out to be a blessing in disguise for RCB, as the BCCI was compelled to call off the IPL for a week on May 9. The match between Punjab Kings and Delhi Capitals had to be called off mid-way in Dharamshala.

The one-week break helped RCB captain Rajat Patidar recover from a finger injury, while the team’s bowling spearhead Josh Hazlewood nursed his shoulder injury after undergoing rehab and training in Australia. The Australian pacer was RCB’s leading wicket-taker, having claimed 22 wickets in just 12 games.

“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,” Flower told reporters after RCB won the IPL.

“But we still missed Tim David and Devdutt Padikkal from our initial squad. They were huge parts of our campaign," he emphasised.

“For those who believe in fate, I’m sure they’ll find a story to tell. There were obviously bigger things at play than RCB winning the trophy at that time — and we all recognised that. But yes, it did give us a bit of breathing space. We were a little slow off the blocks before that,” he added.

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