Andy Flower Named as RCB Head Coach: The former Zimbabwe player Andy Flower was named as RCB’s head coach and will be taking the reins of the team in the next IPL season.
Andy Flower Named as RCB Head Coach
Finally, RCB fans got their answer to the most discussed question – Who is the next coach for RCB in IPL 2024 right after the exit of Mike Hesson and Sanjay Bangar.
Andy Flower has been appointed as the head coach of Royal Challengers Bangalore after IPL 2023, where they failed to make it to the playoffs for the first time in the last four seasons.
The decision follows a “comprehensive three-year performance review” following IPL 2023, where the team finished sixth and missed the playoffs narrowly. Andy Flower will be reunited with Faf du Plessis again when they worked together during his time at St Lucia Kings in the CPL.
Andy Flower takes over from Mike Hesson and Sanjay Bangar, the director of cricket operations of Bangalore and head coach respectively.
“I recognize the work put in by Mike Hesson and Sanjay Bangar, who are two coaches I respect,” Flower said in an RCB statement. “I’m particularly excited to be reunited with Faf.
We have worked very well together in the past I look forward to forging our partnership and relationship into something bigger and better.”
RCB was expected to appoint a Director of Cricket Operation (DCO) over the “next couple of months,” said Vice President Rajesh Menon. The new DCO will be making important decisions on senior management changes within the support staff group.
It includes the futures of bowling coach Adam Griffiths, assistant coach S Sriram, and fielding coach Malolan Rangarajan.
Andy Flower was the head coach of Lucknow Super Giants until the end of the last IPL season and has been in discussion with Rajasthan Royals for the role of head coach.
Andy Flower has been supervising Super Giants’ back-to-back playoffs in their first two years in the IPL. He was then replaced by Justin Langer, the former Australia coach prior to his stints with LSG. Andy Flower had been associated with Punjab Kings in the IPL.
Andy Flower comes on board with a T20 World Cup-winning coach with England in 2010, the former Zimbabwe captain has also coached teams to titles at the PSL, ILT20, and the men’s Hundred. Andy Flower is in charge, St Lucia Kings reached CPL final twice.
He has recently worked with Australia as a consultant during the men’s Ashes. Hesson stepped into the role similar to Andy Flower in 2019 after RCB chose not to renew their contracts with Gary Kirsten, Ashish Nehra, and Vikram Solanki finishing last place in that season.
Hesson led the team to three-season playoffs before they played against Gujarat Titans. On Virat Kohli’s recommendation, Bangar came on board in 2022, after Simon Katich’s exit as head coach.
RCB management was intentionally changing its coaching staff with usually the contracts renewed in September. Menon confirmed RCB women’s team will also have a new head coach. The WPL management will not likely work under the preview of the new DCO.
“We wanted to have just the head coach and captain drive that ship.” RCB women finished fifth among six teams during the inaugural season.
The three-time IPL finalist RCB has never won the tournament since the beginning of the IPL. They had a chance for the title in 2016 when they were defeated by Sunrisers Hyderabad.
