RCB were adamant to get a good bowling attack, it was a huge first step in winning IPL: Andy Flower
Ahmedabad (PTI): 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.
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.
"We talked about that yesterday when we were in our planning meetings and earlier this evening in the huddle before the game started. We had a good group of experienced cricketers in our team," he said.
"Guys like, obviously, Virat (Kohli), (Josh) Hazlewood, Krunal Pandya, a big part of their recruitment was their experience. Hazlewood has played in World Cup finals before. He has played in big matches and big tournaments, as has Virat.
"Krunal, this is his fourth IPL win so it was crucial recruiting them in the first place. The auction is a huge step in the right direction if you can get it right," Flower added.
He said the total of 190/9 wasn't a huge score but they trusted their bowling attack to deliver on the night.
"Yes, 190 didn't seem like a huge score at this ground. As you know, like an average winning score this season is 220 or something," he said.
"I wouldn't say it was below par, because in a final to go and score 190, you've still got to play really well. We have got a good bowling attack and we trusted that the bowlers would come to the party in that second innings," he said.
Flower acknowledged Dinesh Karthik's role as team mentor cum batting coach.
"Indian insight and knowledge in our coaching staff has been really important for this campaign this year. DK, particularly, as a mentor and a batting specialist, he's been brilliant," Flower said.
"It's quite a transition to make from playing to coaching, and he has done it amazingly well, and it's very obvious that he has had an impact, certainly on the batting group," he said.
Flower said while the pitch had a little bit of moisture, it made batting a bit difficult for the RCB batters.
"There was a little bit of moisture in the pitch initially and it held up a little, so that made batting a little bit tricky for us in the first innings. We would have bowled first if we had won the toss," he said.
"It might have felt a little slow to a lot of people. But there were little cameos along the way from a lot of our batting group. Good, aggressive little cameos that took us to 190."
"(A score of) 190 is a big chase when the pressure of winning the cup is on. So, even though we lost the toss, we handled ourselves really well," Flower added.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
India proposes preferential trade agreement with Mexico to deal with high tariffs
New Delhi (PTI): India has proposed a preferential trade agreement (PTA) with Mexico to help domestic exporters deal with the steep tariffs announced by the South American country, a top government official said on Monday.
Mexico has decided to impose steep import tariffs - ranging from about 5 per cent to as high as 50 per cent on a wide range of goods (about 1,463 tariff lines) from countries that do not have free trade agreements with Mexico, including India, China, South Korea, Thailand and Indonesia.
Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal said that India has engaged with the country on the issue.
"Technical level talks are on...The only fast way forward is to try to get a preferential trade agreement (PTA) because an FTA (free trade agreement) will take a lot of time. So we are trying to see what can be a good way forward," he told reporters here.
While in an FTA two trading partners either significantly reduce or eliminate import duties on maximum number of goods traded between them, in a PTA, duties are cut or removed on a limited number of products.
Trading partners of Mexico cannot file a compliant against the decision on imposing high tariffs as they are WTO (World Trade Organisation) compatible.
The duties are within their bound rates, he said, adding that their primary target was not India.
"We have proposed a PTA because its a WTO-compatible way forward... we can do a PTA and try to get concessions that are required for Indian supply chains and similarly offer them concessions where they have export interests in India," Agrawal said.
ALSO READ: Mexico's Congress approves higher tariffs on goods from India, China and non-FTA nations
Citing support for local production and correction of trade imbalances, Mexico has approved an increase in MFN (most favoured nation) import tariffs (5-50 per cent) with effect from January 1, 2026 on 1,455 tariff lines (or product categories) within the WTO framework, targeting non-FTA partners.
Preliminary estimates suggest that this affects India's around USD 2 billion exports to Mexico particularly -- automobile, two-wheelers, auto parts, textiles, iron and steel, plastics, leather and footwear.
The measure is also aimed at curbing Chinese imports.
India-Mexico merchandise trade totalled USD 8.74 billion in 2024, with exports USD 5.73 billion, imports USD 3.01 billion, and a trade surplus of USD 2.72 billion.
The government has been continuously and comprehensively assessing Mexico's tariff revisions since the issue emerged, engaging stakeholders, safeguarding the interests of Indian exporters, and pursuing constructive dialogue to ensure a stable trade environment benefiting businesses and consumers in both countries.
ALSO READ: Search operation ends in Anjaw truck accident, 20 bodies recovered
Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO) Director General Ajay Sahai has said that Mexico's decision is a matter of concern, particularly for sectors like automobiles and auto components, machinery, electrical and electronics, organic chemicals, pharmaceuticals, textiles, and plastics.
"Such steep duties will erode our competitiveness and risk, disrupting supply chains that have taken years to develop," Sahai said, adding that this development also underlines the little urgency for India and Mexico to fast-track a comprehensive trade agreement.
Domestic auto component manufacturers will face enhanced cost pressures with Mexico hiking duties on Indian imports, according to industry body ACMA.
