Break has helped Patidar, Salt recover: RCB head coach Flower

Phil Salt is raring to go, according to RCB head coach Andy Flower.
| Photo Credit: K. MURALI KUMAR

LUCKNOW Royal Challengers Bengaluru head coach Andy Flower said on Thursday that the break from play, due to the suspension of the ongoing IPL and an abandoned match after resumption, has been beneficial for captain Rajat Patidar and opener Phil Salt.

“Rajat Patidar’s right hand (finger injury) had time to recover, making him fit to bat again. ​Additionally, Salt, who had been sick, got a chance to recharge his batteries and is now back at full force,” he said on the eve of his side’s penultimate league fixture versus Sunrisers Hyderabad here.

The match was originally RCB’s home fixture, but was shifted due to rain threat. “We are obviously disappointed not to be playing tomorrow’s (Friday’s) game in Bengaluru, but we’ve had to roll with that,” he added.

RCB’s last league fixture is also at the Ekana stadium against Lucknow Super Giants on May 27. That leaves RCB with only a day’s gap, should it play Qualifier-1 in Mullanpur on May 29.

“That’s not your ideal lead-in to a qualifier. So, we’ll have to play here, we’ll finish late, we’ll get to bed quite late, then we’ve got to travel on 28th, and play on 29th.

“But that’s the situation in front of us. So, I think the best way for everyone is to take on the reality of that and deal with it,” he said.

SRH pace-bowling coach James Franklin said that opener Tavis Head has undergone all the necessary COVID protocols and is available for selection for Friday’s match. “As far as I’m aware, he’s declared fit and ready to go for selection.”