Gave my youth, prime and experience to RCB: Virat

Acquiring a lethal bowling attack in the mega auction and picking players with experience were "huge first steps" in Royal Challengers Bengaluru's march to their maiden IPL title, said head coach Andy Flower.

- Agencies

AHMEDABAD:

RCB defeated Punjab Kings by six runs in the final here on Tuesday to end their long wait in the 18th edition of the tournament, and Flower said it all began with the franchise making the right moves in the auction last year.

"The auction is a huge first step that you've got to try and get as right as possible and (as a) part of (team director) Mo's (Mo Bobat) philosophy right up front, was to distribute the value a little more equitably rather than spending too much on big-name batsmen who are, of course, very fine players," Flower told the media after RCB's title win.

"The importance of a good bowling attack was acknowledged absolutely adamantly right at the start before the auction and we worked towards that."The win also helped batting great Virat Kohli fulfil his dream of winning an IPL title.

"I know after the first day of the auction, we were copping a little bit of flak. People thought that we were investing our money rather than spending it. But it meant that there was some really good value to be had on the second day," the former Zimbabwe captain said.

Flower counted the players RCB added to their roster during the auction in November at Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

"We had the money to then spend on that value. We got guys like Bhuvi (Bhuvneshwar Kumar), Krunal (Pandya), Tim David, Romario Shepherd on that second day so that was really important," he said.

"Suyash Sharma has done really well for us — our little leg spinner. I thought he has handled himself really well through the season.

"Krunal is a big match player and a great competitor and that spell today (Tuesday) was the major difference between the teams," said Flower of Pandya, who returned match-winning figures of 4-0-17-2.Flower said having players with experience of competing in big matches also came in handy for RCB.