IPL 2022: RCB’s Director of Cricket Mike Hesson reveals reason behind naming Du Plessis as captain over Maxwell, Karthik

Since Virat Kohli’s decision to relinquish the captaincy role for Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) at the end of the 2021 season of the Indian Premier League (IPL), the franchise’s possible successor has been the most talked about topic over the last few months. And all until Saturday (March 12) when RCB finally picked Kohli’s successor for captaincy post, naming Faf du Plessis as their new skipper for the 2022 season. Although, he remained the frontrunner for the post, franchise Director of Cricket Mike Hesson revealed the logic behind picking Du Plessis as the new captain. 

Since Du Plessis’ signing last month at the mega auction, he emerged as the strongest candidate for the role amid competition from Glenn Maxwell, who was retained by RCB, and veteran Indian wicketkeeper-batsman Dinesh Karthik, who as well was picked in the auction, for INR 5.5 crore.  

Asked whether the franchise bid for the former South Africa skipper with the captaincy in mind, Hesson explained it was a little bit of both.

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“It was a little bit of both. We obviously had Maxwell and Virat to have huge captaincy experience that we retained. We felt within our leadership group we wanted to expand on that and also Harshal Patel as well. Who we wanted to buy back. So it was more about growing our leadership group and carrying on from that.

“Obviously, Faf was right up the top of that list in terms of whom we were wanting to get. It was little bit of both. I know how well respected he is. I know tactically sound he is. We have the likes of Virat, Maxi (Maxwell), DK who is new to the group.”

Franchises have often refrained from keeping an overseas captain in a bid to keep the playing XI flexible given that IPL rule permits teams to have only four foreign players in the line-up. But Hesson backed Du Plessis saying that he is good enough to play every game.

“When you look to decide who’s the most suitable candidate for the role, you don’t necessarily decide whether they’re an Indian player or an overseas player. Sure the seven Indians and there’s four overseas — we know the maths.

“The reality is that Faf is good enough to play every single game anyway. So that’s not a question. Therefore you just look at who’s the guy you gonna work with the leaders in the group and get the best out of the younger guys, build relationships and help develop that RCB culture that we want.

“We just want the best candidate for the job. And there’s no doubt in our mind that Faf is the guy for that,” Hesson added.