IPL 2021: RCB head coach Simon Katich steps down, Mike Hesson to take over for UAE leg

The Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) made a host of changes to their squad and announced it on Saturday afternoon. The team added Wanindu Hasaranga, Dushmantha Chameera and Tim David to their squad as replacements for their Australian players who have decided not to travel for the second leg of the Indian Premier League (IPL).

Moreover, there is also a change in the support staff with the head coach Simon Katich stepping down from his position due to personal reasons. The Director of Cricket Operations of the franchise, Mike Hesson, will take over the head coach’s role now only for the rest of the IPL season.

The RCB Vice-President and Head Rajesh Menon thanked Katich for his contribution while at the helm and wished him success for the future.

“As the season resumes in the UAE, it’s going to be an exciting chapter ahead. Simon Katich has decided to step down as the Head Coach of RCB, we would like to thank Katich for his work during his time at Royal Challengers and wish him success in the future. In the interim, Mike Hesson will step in and discharge the duties of Head coach until the end of the current season, in addition to his existing role of Director of Cricket,” he said according to RCB’s official website.

RCB to leave for UAE on August 29

Meanwhile, the RCB squad comprising of Indian players will assemble in Bengaluru on Saturday and will undergo seven days of quarantine period. All of them will also undergo three COVID tests and upon negative test reports, will leave for the UAE on August 29 and the international players will also reach at the same time.

The whole team will go into quarantine for another six days before they start training around two weeks ahead of the IPL resumption. RCB will resume their campaign on September 20 with the game against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) while their skipper Virat Kohli will flow in from England, along with other IPL-bound players, just before the game.