Bengaluru, Aug 30: Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) on Thursday announced former India coach Gary Kirsten as their head coach and mentor for the upcoming edition of the cash-rich league.

Gary, who guided India to the 2011 World Cup title, will succeed former New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori, who had been associated with the franchise both as player and coach for the past eight editions.

Gary, the former South Africa opener joined the RCB as batting coach in the 2018 edition of the league, and brings to the team a wealth of experience having played close to 700 matches (ODI, Tests and First Class) scoring close to 40,000 runs across all formats.

Commenting on his appointment, Gary said: "I had the privilege of coaching with the RCB team last season under head coach Vettori and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. I look forward to continuing the journey with RCB and doing my best to help the franchise reach its potential."

"I want to thank the team management for considering me in a leadership position with the franchise and I look forward to a successful few years," he added.

Moving on from RCB, Vettori said: "I am extremely grateful for the eight years I have spent with RCB, as a player and a coach and I wish the franchise all the best moving forward.

 

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New Delhi/Thiruvananthapuram (PTI): Senior Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala, a CM hopeful, on Wednesday said that social media campaigns and putting up of flexboards wiill not be the deciding factors for selecting the chief minister of Kerala.

Chennithala made the remark in response to reporters queries in Delhi on the intense social media campaign in favour of V D Satheesan as CM on the ground that he led the UDF poll campaign from the front.

"Who should be CM is not decided based on social media campaigns or the flexboards put up by the supporters. It is decided by the high command in accordance with the procedure already in place.

"As part of that two party observers will reach Kerala by evening and they will speak to all the MLAs. After that, the party high command will take a decision," the senior Congress leader said.

He said that the high command will take the decision based on party interests and everyone will accept it.

Chennithala also rejected queries about whether the alleged contest within the party for the CM post will create any displeasure among the voters.

"There will be no displeasure among voters as there is no contest," he contended.

On whether there was a delay in announcing the CM for Kerala, Chennithala said that the chief minister has not been selected in the other state where polls were held.

"So, can it be said that there is a delay in the case of Kerala?" he asked.

He said that he was in Delhi for a meeting with Rahul Gandhi regarding finalisation of the DCC presidents in Maharashtra.