Avon Speechly was the head physio of RCB for 18 years.Image Credit source: Getty Images
Whenever it comes to being associated with the same team for a long time in IPL, only one name comes to mind – Virat Kohli. The former captain of Royal Challengers Bangalore has been a part of the league since its first season in 2008 and has been playing for RCB for 19 consecutive seasons. But apart from Kohli, there is also a special person, who remained associated with RCB for 18 consecutive years. The name of this person is Avon Speechly, who has now separated from IPL and RCB gave him special respect.
But who is Avon Speechly and for 18 years rcb Why stay in? Avon Speechly is actually a resident of South Africa and is a well-known sports physiotherapist. When IPL started in 2008, apart from coaches, every franchise had hired professionals like therapists, trainers in their support staff and in such a situation, many foreign experts became part of different teams of IPL. At the same time, RCB hired Speechly as the head physiotherapist of the team.
RCB honored Speechly
For so many years, only Virat Kohli remained a part of RCB as a player, but Speechly was the person in the support staff who, like Virat, remained associated with RCB during this period. Speechly’s journey with Bengaluru finally ended after 18 years in 2025 and this journey ended with the team’s first IPL trophy. Now Speechly is not a part of any IPL team. But despite this, he suddenly reached the RCB camp in IPL 2026.
! Your legacy at RCB will always be remembered. 🙌❤️
Evan Speechly was our Head Physio for 18 long years, from 2008 to 2025 – one of the OGs of RCB. He flew down to Bengaluru for a special farewell, and we were all teary eyed! pic.twitter.com/fjVJR80V1j
— Royal Challengers Bengaluru (@RCBTweets) May 4, 2026
In fact, RCB had decided to honor Speechly for playing an important role in keeping the players fit for 18 years. For this reason, he was specially called, where he was honored by giving him a special wrist watch in the dressing room. During this, Kohli also mentioned his respect and love for Speechly and said that in those 18 years, he spent more time with Speechly, Basu and Mane Kaka than he ever spent with anyone in RCB.
Speechly also had connection with Team India
Speechly not only had connections with RCB, but he was also the head physiotherapist of the Indian cricket team at one time. He was appointed by BCCI with Team India in October 2011 and he remained in this role till February 2013. Before joining cricket, Speechly was also the physio of South African football and rugby teams for almost two decades.
