Virat Kohli's record as the Royal Challengers Bangalore skipper might have been below-par but the team's newly-appointed Director of Cricket Mike Hesson ruled out any change in leadership for the under-performing franchise in the next IPL edition. Despite stars like Virat Kohli, AB de Villiers and Chris Gayle (for the better part), RCB has not won the IPL since the event's inception. Virat Kohli has led the team in seven of those seasons. Mike Hesson nipped questions on Kohli controlling the team and change in captaincy in the bud.  "We don't have that perception that Virat controls things. But maybe he has had his learnings from the past (mistakes) while moving forward," Mike Hesson said during a media interaction on Thursday.

Mike Hesson said Virat Kohli has been on the same page as him and chief coach Simon Katich. "There has been no question mark over Virat's captaincy during last couple of weeks (of discussions)," Mike Hesson clarified. "...we have been very much aligned and he has been more than happy to take our advice from our experience," the former New Zealand coach added.

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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 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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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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