Royal Challengers Bengaluru head coach Andy Flower has expressed his delight at Virat Kohli’s recent batting heroics in the ongoing ODI series against South Africa. While Flower admitted he could not watch the full matches, he followed key moments closely—especially Kohli’s batting—and said it was “wonderful” to see the RCB star in such commanding form.
Kohli has been in exceptional touch, smashing a fluent 102 off 93 balls in Raipur, registering his 53rd ODI century and 84th international ton. Although India lost the match by four wickets, Kohli’s innings stood out as a reminder of his enduring class and hunger. The Raipur knock came just three days after he reached his 52nd ODI hundred in Ranchi, further solidifying his form heading into a packed cricketing calendar.
“I really enjoyed watching the last couple of ODIs. I haven’t caught the entire games, but I saw snippets of Virat batting—and it was wonderful to see him bat the way he is,” Flower told The Times of India.
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“He isn’t playing as much cricket as earlier, but his standards remain incredibly high, and the hunger for runs is clearly intact,” he added.
Flower also extended support to India head coach Gautam Gambhir, who has faced criticism following India’s Test series defeat to South Africa—their second home series loss in less than a year after New Zealand’s 3-0 sweep. The RCB coach, who worked closely with Gambhir at Lucknow Super Giants, praised his leadership and work ethic.
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“I have tremendous respect for Gautam Gambhir. He was a forceful mentor at LSG, and I valued our partnership. I respect him as a player, a leader, and a person who never shies away from responsibility,” Andy Flower said.
He concluded by noting that India’s deep talent pool means the team does not need to depend on rank turners at home, highlighting the strength and depth of the current squad.
