Cricket

'Kya pata ab RCB ki kismat ke bhi phool khil jaye' - Fans react to Andy Flower's appointment as new head coach of Royal Challengers Bangalore

Royal Challengers Bangalore have confirmed the appointment of Zimbabwean international Andy Flower as their new head coach.

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Daniel S
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RCB

RCB (Source: Twitter)

Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) on Friday, August 4 confirmed the appointment of T20 World Cup winning coach Andy Flower as their new head coach. The Zimbabwean international will replace Sanjay Bangar in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 after the Bangalore-based franchise refused to renew the contracts of the latter and Director of cricket operations Mike Hesson.

Flower was the head coach of Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) for the last two years and guided the team to reach the playoffs in both seasons. The Lucknow-based franchise earlier confirmed that they parted ways with the former Zimbabwe wicket-keeper batter. After reports of RCB releasing Bangar and Hesson earlier surfaced, there were rumors that Flower would continue in the role with the 2016 IPL finalists.

RCB made the announcement on their Twitter handle: "We are beyond thrilled to welcome ICC Hall of Famer and T20 World Cup winning coach Andy Flower as the Head Coach of RCB Men’s team. Andy’s experience of coaching IPL & T20 teams around the world, and leading his teams to titles at the PSL, ILT20, The Hundred and Abu Dhabi T10 will help in developing a championship winning mindset and take RCB’s Play Bold philosophy forward," the team added.

Former New Zealand cricket team coach Hesson joined RCB in August 2019, the year the team endured a terrible season, finishing last in the points table. The 48-year-old then led the team to three straight playoff appearances. Meanwhile, Bangar was appointed ahead of the 2022 season and helped the team finish fourth that year, but they failed to qualify in the 2023 season.

Can’t wait to fully experience the atmosphere in Chinnaswamy: Flower

Reacting to his appointment as RCB's head coach, Flower said that he is honoured to represent the franchise and excited to experience the massive fan craze in the upcoming season. He will work alongside Faf du Plessis, who he has worked with in the past, and will aim to win the maiden IPL trophy for the franchise.

“I am really proud to be joining RCB. I’m truly honoured to represent a franchise of their size, reputation and standing. RCB have an unrivalled fan following and I can’t wait to fully experience the atmosphere in the Chinnaswamy next season,” Andy Flower said in an official statement released by RCB," Flower said.

“I recognise the work put in by Mike Hesson and Sanjay Bangar, who are two coaches I respect, and I look forward to the challenge of taking RCB to new heights. I’m particularly excited to be reunited with Faf. We have worked very well together in the past and I look forward to forging our partnership and relationship into something bigger and better," he added.

Here's how fans reacted to the appointment of Andy Flower as new RCB head coach:

Indian Premier League 2023 IPL RCB LSG Andy Flower