Andy Flower has been named head coach of Royal Challengers Bangalore’s men’s side ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) season next year. Flower will succeed Sanjay Bangar as head coach of the franchise until the 2023 IPL, when the squad failed to make the playoffs for the first time in four seasons.
Apart from Bangar, the franchise confirmed that they are not renewing the contract of Mike Hesson, who was Director of Cricket Operations, as part of the internal assessment that the team conducted following the end of the previous season.
“I appreciate the efforts of Mike Hesson and Sanjay Bangar, two coaches I admire, and I look forward to the challenge of taking RCB to new heights.” I’m very happy to see Faf again. We’ve worked well together in the past, and I’m excited to grow our cooperation and connection into something bigger and better,” Flower said after being named RCB’s head coach.
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“We have an exciting roster of players to work with, and I recognize and appreciate both the incredible opportunity with RCB and the responsibility that comes with the role.” “It’s a fantastic challenge, and I can’t wait to get started,” Flower added.
Flower was most recently the head coach of the Lucknow Super Giants, leading the team to the IPL 2022 and 2023 playoffs before being replaced by ex-Australia head coach Justin Langer.
Flower has created a name for himself as a successful coach. He led England to Ashes victories at home in 2009 and 2013, as well as in Australia in 2010-11. He was also the head coach of England when they won the Men’s T20 World Cup in the West Indies in 2010.
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Flower worked in England’s route systems for the next five years after standing down as England’s head coach in 2014. He subsequently spent two seasons as an assistant coach with the Punjab Kings in the IPL before joining the newly formed Lucknow club.
He was also the head coach of Gulf Giants, who won the UAE’s ILT20 competition, and Multan Sultans, who won the Pakistan Super League (PSL) earlier this year, in addition to coaching Trent Rockets to the Men’s Hundred title last year.
He also led the St Lucia Kings to two Caribbean Premier League (CPL) finals. Flower joined the Australian camp in June ahead of the World Test Championship final against India, and he was a consultant for the squad during the recently finished Ashes series in England.
Under Hesson, RCB made three playoff appearances before falling short against Gujarat Titans in the last-four stage. He also led the Royal Challengers Bangalore women’s squad to fifth place in the first Women’s Premier League. “I’d like to thank the RCB management, players, support staff, and fans for a journey filled with memories I’ll never forget.”
Bangar, on the other hand, has been a member of the team since 2022. “I’ve had an amazing journey with the franchise.” Working with this incredible group of people and being a part of the RCB has been a gratifying experience. “I wish the players, management, and the entire RCB team the best of luck.”
-IANS
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