RCB rope in first female support staff as sports massage therapist

Royal Challengers Bangalore roped in Navnita Gautam as the sports massage therapist for the team in the upcoming season, making them the first team in the tournament to have a women staff member. Taking to Twitter to make the announcement, RCB said that her role involves helping the team prepare and recover better through massage therapy. Earlier this year, RCB announced the signing of Mike Hesson and Simon Katich as Director of Cricket Operations and head coach respectively. Heading into the 13th season of the IPL in 2020, RCB will hope to finally end their trophy drought, as the team has not managed to win a single title yet. 

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RCB announces female support staff's signing

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Mike Hesson feels Simon Katich is the right man for the job

"He (Simon Katich) was on the radar for RCB for a while, and rightfully so because he's very talented. He was part of our discussions too. I feel like RCB have gotten the right man for the job. We hope to put our best foot forward," Mike Hesson was quoted as saying in a media release issued by Karnataka Premier League. "The key fact in any new place is to immerse yourself entirely in the experience, rather than trying to impose your views and the way you work. You need to be doing the adapting. It's not the other way around," he said even as he hoped to turn the things around for the southern franchise. RCB has failed to win the coveted IPL title even once.  The team has failed to make it to the playoffs in the last three seasons. Despite having a star-studded team comprising of the likes of Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers, RCB has put up a string of poor performances in the IPL seasons.  

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RCB's questionable recruitment

RCB's questionable recruitment has come in for a lot of criticism but Mike Hesson assured that this time they are looking at specific players and not hundreds of options. "There will be a big focus on recruitment. Once auction gets completed, the work starts then, not a week before the tournament starts. We would have clarity in roles that players need to perform," he said.  On recruitment of domestic players, Hesson said there are specific players they would be looking at and not just statistical highlights during the Mushtaq Ali or Vijay Hazare Trophy. "During Vijay Hazare and Mushtaq Ali Trophy, we would like to see players we want to fit in. It's more about finding out how players build context around performance, conditions and pressure situations," he said. Mike Hesson also agreed that the team needs to consider consistent performances and not one odd innings before selecting players. "Form is a factor but we need to be more holistic in terms of how we talent scout. We look at a four-year period as then they are ready to deliver when put under the pump. It doesn't happen after one good season," he said. 

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