Published: Oct 29, 2018, 05:08 PM (IST)
Edited: Oct 29, 2018, 05:08 PM (IST)
Mike Hesson is set to sign a contract with IPL franchise Kings XI Punjab to take over as their head coach, replacing Brad Hodge. Hesson stepped down from his role of New Zealand head coach earlier this year as he wanted to spend more time with family.
He contract with New Zealand would have expired after the ICC World Cup 2019 but her stepped down a year before with Gary Stead succeeding him in the position.
Hodge was appointed KXIP head coach last season and under him they finished second-last in the points tally after starting with five wins from seven matches in IPL 2018. According to a report in ESPNcricinfo, Hesson, who will be in India this week to complete the formality of his contract, will be given a freehand to select his coaching staff.
Under Hesson, New Zealand played 53 Tests of which they won 21 whole 13 ended in draws. They won 65 of 119 ODIs and 30 of 59 T20Is. During his tenure, New Zealand also made it to the final of the 2015 World Cup where they lost to Australia.
The Ravichandran Ashwin-led KXIP recently traded Australia allrounder Marcus Stoinis with Royal Challengers Bangalore’s Mandeep Singh.
KXIP are one of the three active IPL franchisees to have never won the league in its 11-year history. They have once made it to the final, in 2014, where they lost to Kolkata Knight Riders.
