RCB Addresses Speculations on Virat Kohli's Captaincy Return in IPL 2025

Following the Royal Challengers Bangalore's (RCB) retention announcement for the IPL 2025 season, the franchise's Director of Cricket, Mo Bobat, spoke out regarding the swirling rumors about Virat Kohli potentially returning as captain. This speculation gained momentum after RCB confirmed the release of Faf du Plessis, who captained the team for the last three seasons.

In a report by the Times of India, it was suggested that Kohli might be poised to reclaim the captaincy for the first time since stepping down in 2021. Kohli has a storied history as RCB's skipper, holding the record as the third-longest-serving captain in IPL history with 143 matches, only behind MS Dhoni and Rohit Sharma.

Bobat emphasized that while the franchise had indeed made the decision not to retain Faf, they had not yet made any determinations regarding the captaincy for the upcoming season. He stated, “I am sorry to disappoint everybody listening. We have not made any decision related to captaincy or on that (Kohli returning as skipper) as yet. We are open to options. The only obvious decision we made was not to retain Faf. He did a great job last year and the year before that."

He further elaborated that RCB, like many other teams, would be considering various leadership options ahead of the mega auction scheduled for next month. “So from our perspective, we will keep a very open mind when we head to the auction,” Bobat added.

RCB’s Retention Strategy

In addition to Kohli, who was retained for a hefty INR 21 crore, RCB also confirmed the retention of two other players: Rajat Patidar for INR 11 crore and Yash Dayal for INR 5 crore. This leaves RCB with a substantial auction purse of INR 83 crore to work with as they prepare for the upcoming season.

RCB's head coach, Andy Flower, expressed excitement about the retention of the two players alongside Kohli. He highlighted Dayal's talent as a unique left-arm bowler capable of swinging the ball in both directions, which adds a valuable dynamic to the team's bowling attack. Flower remarked, "We are thrilled to retain Yash Dayal, an extraordinary talent whose career is on an upward trajectory."

Regarding Patidar, Flower noted, "Rajat Patidar is a key member of our squad. His exceptional talent and resilience have already made a significant impact on our team, and he truly embodies the spirit of RCB."

As the IPL 2025 auction approaches, all eyes will be on RCB to see how they navigate their roster and whether Virat Kohli will take the helm again as captain.