Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) confirm new Director of Cricket appointment

The Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) have confirmed Mo Bobat as their new Director of Cricket ahead of 2024 Indian Premier League (IPL) season.

Bobat, 40, has been working with the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) for 12 years and has been their Performance Director since 2019. He has played a crucial role in helping England establish a revolutionary approach that has seen them dominating the opposition and lifting both the T20I and ODI World Cups in the men’s game in recent years.

Bobat and RCB head coach Andy Flower, having previously worked together in the England setup, are set to reunite at the RCB. Bobat will oversee all talent recruitment and performance plans for the Royal Challengers and aim to establish the right cultural and high-performance foundations for sustained success.

Prathmesh Mishra, Chief Commercial Officer of Diageo India and Chairman of the RCB, commented:

“We are delighted to welcome Mo Bobat as the Director of Cricket for RCB in the IPL. RCB has always focussed on a performance-oriented approach and creating a culture that reflects its ‘playbold’ philosophy. Bobat has already proved what he can do in a similar role with England, and I believe, with the expertise and years of experience, he will guide RCB to newer horizons and excellence.“

Rajesh V Menon, Vice President & Head of the RCB, said:

“The Position of Director of Cricket is an important position in the development of our long term strategy of elite performance. We believe Mo has the knowledge & expertise to take us forward in this area.“

Mo Bobat added:

“I’m both excited and proud to be joining RCB as Director of Cricket. RCB is one of the most recognisable franchises in the world, with a renowned fan base. To serve them will be a huge honour. It’s important to acknowledge the work of both Mike Hesson and Sanjay Bangar, for the stability and consistency they provided over recent years. I’m really looking forward to working closely with Andy Flower, somebody I know well, to take on the baton and deliver the success that RCB craves. When the time comes, I’ll leave the ECB with the heaviest of hearts. I’ll be forever grateful for all of the opportunities and support that I received over the years and will carry with me many special memories, shared achievements and friendships. Andy and I are relishing the challenges ahead, and we’re looking forward to helping Faf and the players to fulfil their potential.“