How RCB adjusted with the break due to India-Pakistan tension and won IPL 2025

Mo Bobat reveals how RCB adjusted with the war break and won IPL 2025 (BCCI Photo)

Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s (RCB) Director of Cricket, Mo Bobat shared some interesting tales in his interview with Cricbuzz. There was a different kind of off-the-field challenge during IPL 2025, caused by the tension at the Indo-Pak border, which necessitated a week-long break towards the end of the league. It forced the teams to readjust and alter plans. RCB handled it the best as they kept their mid-tournament form intact and won the title.

“There were upsides and downsides to the break,” said Bobat. He explained that mentally it was a hard time, but there was also a positive outcome. “We were playing good cricket. You don't want to lose that feeling and that momentum. So, psychologically, it was a bad time. Physically, it was probably a good time because we had just played seven games in 21 or 22 days, all travelling before and after each one. That was probably the most extensive schedule that any team had.”

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Once they came to terms with the break, they discovered the positives. Captain Rajat Patidar, Australian fast bowler Josh Hazlewood and top-order batter Devdutt Padikkal had suffered niggles. Because of the break, they got time to recover. “The bodies were creaking a little bit because of the schedule... I think so long as we could patch up the guys physically, I was quite keen for us to play soon... I'm glad the break wasn't too long,” said the person, who spent years working with the cricket board of England.

Handling the Hazelwood issue was critical. The fast bowler was going great guns for RCB, but the Australian board wasn’t particularly keen on sending him back to India after the break. They wanted him fit and fresh for the World Test Championship final against South Africa. That was a tough time for the franchise. But ultimately, Hazlewood returned.

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Bobat credited the RCB medical team for coming up with the best solution for the team. “We were mindful that he might go back to Australia, he might rest his shoulder for a bit. Cricket Australia might go, 'OK, let's now get him ready for the Test Championship Final.' Our medical team did an excellent job liaising with Cricket Australia's medical team and they were speaking anyway through the season on a regular basis. So, I think that's really, really helpful. Thankfully, Cricket Australia trusted us and Josh was desperate to come back strong in the IPL for us.”