IPL 2020: RCB Sporting Director Picks Aussie Who Can Help Virat Kohli Lead The Team

Virat Kohli will receive help from Australian skipper Aaron Finch while leading Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) at the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020, claimed team’s sporting director Mike Hesson.

Despite always being a star-studded side, RCB have failed to taste success in the IPL. The Bangalore-based franchise is among the three sides that have not won the cash-rich league yet, the other two being Delhi Capitals (DC) and Kings XI Punjab (KXIP). Kohli has been RCB’s captain since 2011. Ever since he took charge, RCB have made it to the final just once – 2011, where they lost to MS Dhoni’s Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the final.

Ahead of the 13th edition of the league, which is due to begin on Sept. 19 in the UAE, RCB are a revamped side with Hesson as the team director and former Australian batsman, Simon Katich, as the head coach.

RCB’s team management did a video conference from Dubai, where the team is currently based, where they admitted that they have had multiple discussions with Kohli over the team’s shortcomings and how they are going to rectify before the IPL 2020.

RCB have even revealed that Kohli will open the batting for them along with World No. 3 T20I batsman Finch, who they believe can chip in with his leadership experience as well.

"We were looking for guys at the top of their game in international cricket. Finch was high on that list (in the auction). As a player and captain, he has done well in Australia. He is a good player of spin and brings leadership in the group. It will help Virat. Having senior players around him will take the load off him," said Hesson in the same video conference.

Finch, who made his T20 debut in 2009, has scored close to 9,000 runs so far in the shortest format of the game.

RCB are expected to begin training in Dubai once their quarantine period ends. As of now, they have 16 players in Dubai, while five more will join them a little later. Finch is currently in England on national duty as Australia are set to take on England in three T20Is and three ODIs, starting from Sept. 4. The T20Is will be played in Southampton, while the 50-over games will take place in Manchester.