Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) director of cricket Mike Hesson has finally confirmed the date when they will begin training for the 13th season of the Indian Premier League (IPL). Despite not winning the league for a single time, Bangalore will enter the competition as one of the frontrunners to lift the prestigious trophy.

Meanwhile, IPL 2020 will commence from March 29 with defending champions Mumbai Indians locking horns with Chennai Super Kings in the tournament opener. The Royal Challengers will open their IPL 2020 campaign against two-time champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) on their home ground at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium on March 31.

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The Virat Kohli-led side has reached the finals of the competition thrice but is yet to lift the trophy. In 2016, Kohli single-handedly took them to the pinnacle clash but couldn’t go all the way. Since then, they have struggled to get going finishing 8th in 2017 and 2019 and 6th in 2018. They will be desperate to produce a better show this time around and bring the title home for the crowds, who have been one of the most supportive in IPL so far.

Hesson reveals the date

In a bid to do well, Bangalore will kick off their training camps from March 21, revealed Mike Hesson. The management has roped in a new group of support staff with Simon Katich as the head coach, who will work with Hesson to change RCB’s fortune. Meanwhile, Hesson also confirmed that cricketers have already started training individually.

“UPDATE: In reply to many queries re: @RCBTweetsTraining camp…..Our full squad camp starts on 21st March in #Bengaluru the majority of International and Domestic player commitments are finished at that time. Individual work still happening prior to then also,” Mike Hesson tweeted. 

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