IPL 2018 | Gary Kirsten set to be appointed Royal Challengers Bangalore batting coach

12/20/2017

Gary Kirsten is all set to join Royal Challengers Bangalore as the batting coach for the upcoming season of the Indian Premier League. The former South Africa batsman was coach of the Indian cricket team that won the 2011 World Cup and had also worked as the batting coach of the Delhi Daredevils.

Despite never being blessed with pure technique, Kirsten’s penchant for hard work stood during his days as a batsman and helped him become an integral part of the South African line-up. He became one of the most successful and popular coaches in India as the team, under the leadership of MS Dhoni, went to the top of the Test rankings and gave him a brilliant farewell by winning the 2011 World Cup at home.

Though he didn’t want to renew his contract with the national team citing his need to spend more time with the family, he went on to become a successful franchise coach after that. And now, ahead of the 11th edition of the IPL, reports have emerged that the former South Africa batsman will join the Bangalore-based franchise as the batting coach with Daniel Vettori as the chief coach of the side.

Kirsten is, currently, the head coach of the Big Bash League franchise Hobart Hurricanes, his first stint in BBL. He had coached Delhi Daredevils in 2014 and 2015 before the franchise decided to remove him, ending his three-year contract prematurely. In the two seasons, he was coaching Delhi, the team finished last and second-last.

For the last four years, Bangalore have kept Vettori as their head coach and his stint with the team has given mixed results. While in the 2014 season, RCB finished second from the bottom, they lost the second qualifier to Chennai Super Kings to finish at the third position, the following campaign. The 2016 season was one of the best for the three-time runners-up as they marched into the finals before losing to Sunrisers Hyderabad. The last season was a disaster for the Virat Kohli-led side as they could only win three matches out of 14 and finished bottom of the table.

The auctions for IPL 2018 will be held on January 27 and 28 in Bangalore and a franchise can retain up to five players.