IPL 2021: Royal Challengers Bangalore gear up with new additions to squad

Virat Kohli with his RCB team in 2019. Picture/ AFP

Ahead of the resumption of Season 14 of the IPL, Royal Challengers Bangalore announced changes to the squad as the team gears up to renew season 2021 on a positive note in the UAE this September.

Sri Lankan leg-spinner Wanindu Hasaranga replaced Australia’s Adam Zampa, while Tim David from Australia has come in as a replacement for New Zealand’s Finn Allen and Sri Lanka’s Dushmantha Chameera replaced Daniel Sams of Australia.

In another significant development, Simon Katich stepped down as the Head Coach of RCB due to personal reasons and as part of our business continuity plan Mike Hesson will step in and discharge the duties of Head Coach for this season, in addition to his existing role of Director of Cricket Operations, RCB.

The Indian players, support staff and the team management will be assembling in Bengaluru on 21st August following which the team will undergo 7 days of quarantine and will undergo Covid tests for 3 days during the period. The team will then depart via a chartered flight from Bangalore on 29th August. The other international players and staff will assemble in the UAE starting 29th August onwards. There will be another 6 days of quarantine in the UAE.

Talking about the changes in the team, Mike Hesson – Director of Cricket Operations, Royal Challengers Bangalore, said, “We have made some changes to the squad pertaining to the situation. We have come a long way and have shown steady progress as a team. The addition of Wanindu Hasaranga, Tim David and Dushmantha Chameera couldn’t have come at a better time during the replacement window, as we aim to continue with the momentum, building on our performance from earlier this year.”

Speaking about the resumption of the IPL 2021, Rajesh Menon, Vice President and Head, Royal Challengers Bangalore, said, “As the season resumes in the UAE, it’s going to be an exciting chapter ahead. Simon Katich has decided to step down as the Head Coach of RCB, we would like to thank Katich for his work during his time at Royal Challengers and wish him success in the future. In the interim, Mike Hesson will step in and discharge the duties of Head coach until the end of the current season, in addition to his existing role of Director of Cricket.”

Royal Challengers Bangalore resume Season 14 of the IPL on 20th September 2021 as they square off against Kolkata Knight Riders at the Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi.

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