As the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 auction draws closer, franchises across the league are making strategic moves to strengthen their squads for the upcoming season. Among these, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) have made a notable decision by appointing a new bowling coach, signalling their determination to improve their performance and challenge for the title in the upcoming IPL season.
RCB strengthens coaching staff with new bowling coach
RCB have appointed Omkar Salvi as their new bowling coach for the 2025 edition of the IPL. Salvi, an experienced figure in Indian cricket, brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the role. His appointment comes at a crucial time, with the franchise looking to address longstanding concerns about their bowling attack. Salvi’s rich background in coaching, especially in domestic cricket, positions him to have a transformative impact on RCB’s bowling unit.
Salvi’s coaching career boasts significant achievements. He is best known for his role as the head coach of Mumbai’s team, where under his leadership, Mumbai clinched the prestigious Ranji Trophy in 2023-24. His team also triumphed in the Irani Cup in October 2024, further showcasing his tactical acumen and ability to get the best out of his bowlers. Salvi’s experience extends beyond domestic cricket; he was also part of the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) coaching setup as an assistant bowling coach, adding valuable IPL experience to his resume.
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A revamped coaching unit for IPL 2025
For several seasons, RCB have struggled with their bowling department, which has been a significant concern for the franchise. The 2024 IPL season, in particular, highlighted these issues, with Yash Dayal being the team’s highest wicket-taker with just 15 wickets in 14 matches. Despite his contribution, Dayal did not feature in the top 15 highest wicket-takers for the season, a clear indication of the challenges RCB faced in the bowling department. With Salvi now on board, there is renewed hope that RCB can build a more potent and consistent bowling attack, addressing the issues that have plagued them for years.
In addition to Salvi’s appointment, RCB has also made another significant change to their coaching staff, bringing in Dinesh Karthik as the team’s batting coach and mentor. Karthik, a seasoned IPL player and a veteran of Indian cricket, brings invaluable experience to the team. With both Karthik overseeing the batting and Salvi in charge of the bowling, RCB now boasts a dynamic coaching unit capable of improving both their strengths and addressing their weaknesses. This dual coaching setup is expected to foster better synergy within the squad and enhance their performance across all facets of the game.
With these new appointments, RCB are clearly aiming for a fresh start in IPL 2025, with the hope of finally clinching their first-ever IPL trophy. The addition of Karthik and Salvi to the coaching staff signals the franchise’s commitment to putting together a balanced and competitive team, capable of contending for the title. As the season approaches, all eyes will be on how these strategic changes translate into on-field success for the RCB.