Former Proteas opening batsman and coach Gary Kirsten will mentor the Royal Challengers Bangalore batsmen in this year’s IPL.
Indian veteran Ashish Nehra will become bowling coach under former New Zealand spinner Daniel Vettori, who will continue as head coach.
The RCB are considered as one of the most star-studded sides in the IPL; last year they had a top order batting trio of Chris Gayle, Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers. But they under-performed throughout the tournament and managed just three wins all season to finish bottom of the log.
‘I am excited to welcome Gary and Ashish to the coaching team for Royal Challengers Bangalore,’ said Vettori. ‘Both bring a wealth of experience in cricket, which the team can learn from immensely. We look forward to an amazing season.’
The IPL season 11 auction is slated for January 27 and 28 and the franchises have to decide on the retention players by 4 January. RCB would like to retain at least Kohli and De Villiers, who face each other in the Freedom Series, starting at Newlands on 5 January.
It is not the first time that Kirsten has been a part of the game’s most lucrative tournament, having previously coached the Delhi Daredevils. The 50-year-old also coached India to the 2011 Cricket World Cup title before he coached his own national side until 2013.
