Dinesh Karthik, the Royal Challengers Bengaluru batting coach who shares the RCB dressing room with Andy Flower, has delivered his verdict on Flower being linked to the England Test head coach role.
Karthik’s comments came days after Brendon McCullum was removed as England men’s Test coach. McCullum paid the price for seven defeats in nine Tests, including a 4-1 Ashes loss. He remains England’s white-ball coach.
Andy Flower is the frontrunner to replace McCullum. He led England from 2009 to 2014, winning three Ashes series including the last away Ashes win in Australia. He also took England to No. 1 in the ICC Test rankings.
Other candidates include Jonathan Trott, Justin Langer and Rahul Dravid. Former England captain Nasser Hussain has urged the ECB to bring Flower back.
But Karthik, who has worked with Flower for two seasons, delivered a clear message.
“In all seriousness, I think he would be a great candidate. He’s definitely one of the names being considered, but I would be very surprised if the answer is a yes.”
Dinesh Karthik, Sky Sports Cricket Podcast, July 13, 2026
Karthik then explained why he feels this way.
“With Andy Flower, with an already pre-signed contract with RCB, which would mean that he would miss parts of all those [Tests]. Will it be okay for England in the preparation for the Ashes if they don’t have a coach for a Test match or two?”
Dinesh Karthik, Sky Sports Cricket Podcast, July 13, 2026
Flower made these remarks on his verified Instagram account on June 30. No official ECB or RCB response has been made at time of publication.
Flower joined RCB on a three-year deal ahead of the 2024 IPL season. Under him, RCB won their first IPL title in 2025 and a second in 2026. He also coaches London Spirit in the Hundred.
The ECB wants a new Test coach in place for the Pakistan series in August. Managing director Rob Key is considering six to 10 candidates. But Flower’s franchise commitments do not leave a gap in the calendar.
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Karthik’s doubt matters because he has seen Flower’s workload from inside the RCB setup. He knows the hours a coach at that level puts in. The England job is not just about coaching. It also comes with board expectations and public scrutiny that Flower does not face at RCB.
Flower has already done the England job at the highest level. He won the Ashes in Australia. He reached No. 1. There is nothing left for him to prove there. What he has at RCB is a team that trusts him and a franchise that lets him run things his way. Walking away from a winning setup to take over an England team that has lost seven of its last nine Tests is not a simple career move. From where Karthik sits, he sees a coach who is settled and winning. That is harder to leave than outsiders understand.
Andy Flower has not made any public statement on the speculation. The ECB has not confirmed any formal approach.
Sources
- DK doubts Flower will leave RCB – Times of India, July 13, 2026
- RCB coach Flower will not leave IPL – India Today, July 13, 2026
- DK doubts Flower will accept – Herald Goa, July 13, 2026
- DK explains why RCB coach Flower unlikely – News18, July 13, 2026
- Dinesh Karthik on Flower & England – YouTube, Sky Sports Cricket Podcast
