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Rajasthan Royals (RR), one of the prominent franchises in the Indian Premier League (IPL), have made a significant addition to their coaching staff with the appointment of Shane Bond, the legendary former New Zealand fast bowler. Bond will take on a dual role as the Assistant Coach and the Fast-Bowling Coach for the team as they prepare for the IPL 2024 season.
Shane Bond’s impressive track record
Bond’s credentials as a fast bowler and coach are impressive. He previously served as the Bowling Coach for the New Zealand national cricket team from 2012 to 2015, playing a pivotal role in their journey to the final of the 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup. In the IPL, Bond contributed to the success of the Mumbai Indians franchise, which won four titles during his nine-season tenure. Under his guidance, several fast bowlers, including stars like Jasprit Bumrah, flourished as T20 specialists.
Enhancing Rajasthan Royals’ fast bowling core
In his new role with the Rajasthan Royals, Bond is expected to work on enhancing the performance of the team’s current fast bowlers, which includes Prasidh Krishna, Navdeep Saini, Sandeep Sharma, Kuldeep Sen, and Kuldip Yadav. His vast experience and knowledge of the game are anticipated to contribute significantly to the development of the franchise’s bowling unit.
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Kumar Sangakkara welcomes Shane Bond
Kumar Sangakkara, the Director of Cricket for the Rajasthan Royals, welcomed Bond’s appointment, describing him as one of the greatest fast bowlers in modern-day cricket. He emphasized Bond’s extensive experience and mentoring of some of the best bowlers in the world.
“Shane is one of the greatest fast bowlers of modern-day cricket, and brings with himself a wealth of experience and knowledge having mentored some of the best in the business. He has served in the IPL and in India for a number of years and is well-versed with the processes involved within the franchise ecosystem. He is someone who has a keen eye for helping the best become even better, and we are delighted to welcome him to the franchise and look forward to seeing the impact he can make towards molding us into a title-winning team,” said Sangakkara in an official statement.
Shane Bond expresses his excitement
Bond expressed his excitement about joining the Rajasthan Royals and praised the team’s vision and the blend of youth and experience in their bowling group.
“I’m delighted to be joining the Royals. It’s a forward-thinking franchise who are determined to do well, and I’m excited about being part of their vision. The bowling group is a great mix of youth and experience, and it will be awesome to work alongside them,” said Bond.
