IPL: RCB director Mike Hesson rules out removing Virat Kohli from captaincy

The Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) have been one of the most popular franchises of the Indian Premier League (IPL) but never since the inception of the tournament in 2008 have they managed to win the trophy. Current India captain Virat Kohli, who took over the reins of Bangalore’s captaincy in 2013, is their longest-serving skipper now but he has also remained unsuccessful in winning the trophy even once. In the last three seasons, Kohli’s side has finished last in the table of eight twice.

The RCB made some key changes in their coaching staff and squad for the 2019 season but yet the team could not achieve anything better. Former international coach Mike Hesson has now been appointed as their director and the New Zealander has ruled out any change at the helm for the under-performing franchise. He even disagreed with the viewpoint that Kohli controls things in the RCB camp.

“We don’t have that perception that Virat controls things. But may be he has had his learnings from the past (mistakes) while moving forward. There has been no question mark over Virat’s captaincy during last couple of weeks (of discussions),” the 44-year-old Hesson said during a media interaction on Thursday.

“…we have been very much aligned and he has been more than happy to take our advice from our experience,” Hesson, who quit the job of the head coach of Kings XI Punjab in August after a year with the franchise, was quoted as saying.

Hesson stresses on players’ recruitment

RCB’s recruitment of players has often come under criticism but Hesson said that they were looking at specific players for the 2020 edition and not a lot of options. He said the players will have a clear role to play and the preparation will start once the auction gets over and not just a week before the tournament kicks off.

He also said that certain players will be watched during the Vijay Hazare and Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy tournaments. He said it is more important to find out how players build context around performance, conditions and pressure situations.

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