RCB’s new coaching set-up has no intention of replacing Virat Kohli as captain of the team. Mike Hesson and Simon Katich, the Director of Cricket Operations and the head coach respectively, made it clear here on Thursday that Kohli would continue as leader despite the team’s poor showing over the last three seasons.
“Not at all [thinking of a change],” said Katich.
The two were asked if there were any apprehensions about working with Kohli, who has, at times, been perceived as the all-powerful figure at the franchise. “We haven’t got that perception about Virat at all,” said Katich. “Every discussion we have had so far, we’ve been really aligned on how we want to go about things. Potentially there is a learning from that in the fact that what he’s done in the past...Maybe he has learnt from stuff and wants to go about things differently moving forward. But so far, he’s been happy to take advice from our experience and how we see things.
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“We’ve both spoken about it over the last couple of weeks and there is no question that for us, Virat is the captain.”
Katich stated that RCB would aim to take the pressure off Kohli and AB de Villiers, the team’s two superstars.
“What is probably required is taking little pressure off them and surrounding them with the guys who are able to complement them,” he said.
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“They shouldn’t feel the pressure that they have to win every game for RCB.”
Hesson felt the coaching group and Kohli would not be shy of questioning each other’s decisions. “The key thing with any relationship — and Simon, Virat and myself have already been working together, and so far those relationships have been very good — is that as long as you’re aware that you’re coming from a good place, and you’re being honest with each other, and you choose the moment to do it as well, [things will be fine].
“The three of us have to be brutally honest with each other behind closed doors and around every decision. We aren’t going to be passive and be afraid to have honest discussions. There’s no value in that for anybody,” the Kiwi said.