Thaindian News

Bangalore, April 5 (IANS) New Zealand skipper Daniel Vettori will lead the Royal Challengers Bangalore team in the fourth edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL).

RCB chairman Vijay Mallya in a statement said: “Vettori is a experienced and respected leader and we hope to ride to the pinnacle of success in this IPL under his leadership.”

Vettori led a spirited New Zealand team to the ICC World Cup 2011 semifinals where they lost to Sri Lanka.

“Vettori is one of the most respected captains in the world and was praised for his leadership skills in the World Cup quarterfinals against South Africa which the Kiwis won by 49 runs,” said Mallya.

Former Indian Test captain Anil Kumble led the Royal Challengers for the second and third editions of the IPL in which it finished as runners-up and the third best team in 2009 and 2010.

“It is wonderful that we have somebody of Vettori’s stature to lead our team this year. He is the ideal person to fill Kumble’s shoes and I wish him the very best in this endeavour. I look forward to supporting him in his efforts towards a successful season,” said Siddhartha Mallya, Royal Challengers Sports Ltd director, in a statement.

Kumble, who is president of the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA), is the chief mentor of the Royal Challengers.

“Vettori is a respected professional not only within his team but amongst his international peers as well. His unique ability to get players to perform as a unit and deliver more than just the sum of their parts, as he has done time and again with New Zealand, will be a big asset to any team,” Kumble said.

Royal Challengers coach Ray Jennings said that Vettori is probably the best spinner in the world at the moment and brings in tremendous skills that will be useful on the Indian pitches.

“We hope that Daniel will inspire the young Royal Challengers as much with his performance as with his leadership skills in the upcoming season,” Jennings, a former South African cricketer, noted.