After spending a dozen years with the England men’s cricket team as their performance director, Mo Bobat will join the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) franchise for the IPL 2024 season as their new director of cricket.
The 40-year-old Mo Bobat has played a crucial role in the England men’s team’s success over the years, which includes winning the 2019 World Cup, 2022 T20 World Cup, and the revolution in their Test team under Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum.
What was Mo Bobat’s role with the England cricket team?
As their performance director, Bobat oversaw the England Men’s pathway for the past four years, identifying and developing the players that helped the Three Lions script history across formats in recent years.
He has been working with the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) since 2011. He initially managed the England Men’s Under-19s program, before being appointed the ECB’s first Player Identification Lead in 2016.
However, Bobat is not entirely new to RCB. He has worked with RCB on a consultancy basis, and is also known to have a good understanding with Andy Flower, who is RCB’s new head coach.
RCB fans will be hoping that Mo Bobat and Andy Flower finally deliver them a trophy.
“I’ve had the most amazing 12 years at the ECB and it’s been both an honour and a privilege to have spent the last four years as Performance Director,” Bobat said. “Supporting our efforts towards multiple Ashes campaigns and World Cups has quite literally been the stuff of dreams.
“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.
“I’d like to thank all of my current and former colleagues, and of course all of the players that I’ve been able to enjoy time with. I’d specifically like to thank Rob Key for showing me so much trust over the last 18 months and for enabling my preferred transition towards my new professional challenge.
“When the time comes, I’ll leave with the heaviest of hearts and will take pride in knowing that our international pathway is in great health and filled with outstanding people.”
RCB had failed to qualify for the playoffs in IPL 2023, finishing 6th. They have retained Faf du Plessis as their skipper for next season.
