'The team is still under the process of review' - RCB management's take on possible revamp of coaching setup in Royal Challengers Bangalore

The Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise, Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), are yet to renew its contracts with its head coach, Sanjay Bangar, and the Director of cricket operations, Mike Hesson, after finishing the 2023 season. Notably, the three-time finalists have finished the IPL 2023 season in sixth place with seven wins from 14 games.

The contracts are usually renewed before September every year. The franchise have recently said that they are still under the process of review and they will officially announce if any changes have been made.

"Their contract with RCB is still intact. The team is still under the process of review. We will come back if any announcement on the changes in the team," RCB said in a statement as per ESPN Cricinfo.

Hesson, a New Zealand cricket coach, joined Bangalore in August 2019 after the franchise revamped the coaching staff following their last-place finish in the same year. On the other hand, Bangar's tenure with RCB began ahead of the 2022 season after Simon Katich stepped down from the role.

RCB failed to qualify for the Playoffs under Hesson's leadership in IPL 2023

Under Mike Hesson's managerial positions, RCB finished fourth in the IPL 2020 season, losing the Eliminator to Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), and third in 2021 and was defeated by Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the Eliminator. Meanwhile, in IPL 2022, RCB finished fourth after winning the Eliminator and then outplayed by Rajasthan Royals in Qualifier 2, and later failed to qualify for the playoffs in IPL 2023.

Recently, Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) replaced Andy Flower as head coach with Justin Langer as RCB might become the second franchise to make changes to the team management. If the franchise parted ways with Hesson, it could mean a rebuild of the RCB women's team's support staff as well. The former New Zealand coach was also RCB Women's director of cricket during the inaugural Women's Premier League (WPL), in which the Smriti Mandhana-led side finished fourth out of five teams, with just two wins and six defeats.