"Disappointed To Be…": Mike Hesson Reacts As RCB Appoint New Team Management
Royal Challengers Bangalore made a major change in team management months before the auction and the 2024 IPL season when they hired Andy Flower, whose association with Lucknow Super Giants ended just recently, as the new head coach.
This marked the end of Mike Hesson's tenure as the director of cricket operations, and Hesson was "extremely disappointed" to be leaving the franchise.
The team did not renew the contracts of Hesson or any of the other supporting staff members, including head coach Sanjay Bangar. In the same release that announced Flower's hiring, RCB said, "RCB also confirmed the decision of not renewing the contract of Director of Cricket Operations Mike Hesson and Head Coach Sanjay Bangar as part of the internal review that the team has concluded post the end of the previous season.
" The organisation would like to thank both of these gentlemen for their hard work with RCB over the past four years.
Under Hesson's leadership as Director of Cricket Operations, RCB went from having finished last place twice in a row between 2017 and 2019 to reaching the postseason in a record-tying three consecutive seasons by 2022. The term was cut short, however, as RCB finished sixth in 2023.
'Disappointed to be leaving…'
Hesson took to Instagram to express his sadness at leaving the club while also praising the team's accomplishments during his time there. The hardest part, he said, was when they replaced Virat Kohli with Faf du Plessis as captain.
In his piece, Hesson admitted that the team had failed to achieve its ultimate goal despite its recent success.
"Although I'm sad to be leaving RCB, I'll always remember the amazing times I had there, both on and off the pitch. I appreciate the chance that the management has given me and I want the best for RCB and its new coaching staff.
The incredible RCB fan base, who have welcomed me with open arms, has been mentioned several times in this article. I appreciate it very much."
RCB hired Flower as their new head coach because he has an exceptional track record, having won the PSL, The Hundred, and the ILT20, and leading LSG to the playoffs in his lone season in the IPL.