RCB head coach Hesson delighted to have SL’s Hasaranga, Chameera

Mike Hesson

Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) were among the top three teams with five wins in seven games in the first half of IPL-14. However, when the Virat Kohli-led outfit resume their campaign for the remaining games in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) next month, RCB will have a new set of overseas players.

RCB's Director of Cricket Operations Mike Hesson, who has to shoulder additional responsibility as head coach after Simon Katich stepped down due to personal reasons, revealed that, "the balance of our squad has changed dramatically."

During a virtual press conference from South Island, New Zealand on Saturday, Hesson said: "[There are] some significant changes in our playing squad, from an overseas perspective, due to player unavailability and indeed, a reshaping of our overseas contingent."

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Top-order batsman Finn Allen and bowling all-rounder Scott Kuggeleijn have been selected for New Zealand for the series against Bangladesh, while Aussie leg-spinner Adam Zampa, all-rounder Daniel Sams and pacer Kane Richardson made themselves unavailable.

Hesson has high hopes from the two new Sri Lankan players - all-rounder Wanindu Hasaranga (leg-spinner), who was player of the series in the recent T20I contest against India with seven wickets - and pacer Dushmantha Chameera, who claimed four wickets in the same series. "We have replaced Zampa with Hasaranga and are certainly delighted to have him on board. He gives us some balance, obviously from a wrist spin point of view and also plenty of batting capability. Chameera is bowling extremely well at the moment. I know him well, having coached against him. He's got genuine pace," remarked Hesson, 46.

The former New Zealand coach felt Australian Tim David, who replaced Allen, will strengthen RCB's middle-order batting. "He [David] is currently part of the Southern Brave [at The Hundred in England], has been performing for Surrey and Hobart Hurricanes in recent times. He's a power-player who could become a straight swap for either [Glenn] Maxwell or AB de Villiers if required. He also gives us other options through the order."

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