IPL 2020: Mike Hesson appointed RCB’s Director of Cricket; Simon Katich as head coach

Hesson was previously with the Kings XI Punjab in the IPL.

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Mike Hesson
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Mike Hesson. (Photo by Phil Walter/Getty Images)

The Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) have appointed Mike Hesson as their Director of Cricket Operations in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Hesson, the former New Zealand head coach, has been grabbing the headlines for quite a while. He was one of the applicants for the role of the Indian cricket team’s head coach. Unfortunately, the veteran lost to Ravi Shastri, who kept his position.

Hesson also got offers from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to become the head coach, replacing Mickey Arthur. But as per sources, he turned down the lucrative offer. Moreover, he was a part of the Ravi Ashwin-led Kings XI Punjab (KXIP). Earlier this month, he left the franchise. Under Hesson’s tutelage, the Black Caps qualified for a World Cup final for the maiden time back in 2015.

RCB bids Gary Kirsten and Ashish Nehra goodbye

In the meantime, the Challengers have also roped in Simon Katich as their head coach. Katich was previously the assistant coach of the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and bid adieu to the team only a few months ago. In the Knights, he worked with Jacques Kallis, who also left the franchise. Brendon McCullum retired from all forms of cricket this year and he is KKR’s new head coach.

Katich’s appointment has meant that the franchise has parted ways with Gary Kirsten as per reports in ESPNcricinfo. Kirsten, the 2011-World Cup winning coach, earlier replaced Daniel Vettori back in 2018. Ashish Nehra, who served as RCB’s bowling coach won’t be a part of the team either. Last season, the former Indian bowler had to face a lot of criticism for some of his decisions.

With the appointment of Hesson and Katich in their ranks, RCB would be hoping to turn their fortunes around in the T20 tournament. The unit, led by Virat Kohli, is one of the teams to not have gotten their hands on the coveted trophy. Last season, they won five matches, but finished as the cellar dwellers. They also had the worst Net Run Rate, which suggested their poor show.

RCB have qualified for the finals only twice, but apart from that, they have mostly found themselves in the bottom half of the points table. Kohli has been persisted as the captain, despite his constant failures. There’s time for the next season and the franchise will be looking for the required changes.

Watch: List of Virat Kohli’s ridiculously expensive assets

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