Sanjay Manjrekar Criticizes Calls for Virat Kohli to Return as RCB Captain
RCB is currently in search of a new captain after parting ways with former skipper Faf du Plessis. Kohli's tenure as captain began in 2013 when he took over from Daniel Vettori and led RCB to the finals in 2016, where they ultimately fell to Sunrisers Hyderabad. He stepped down from captaincy after the 2021 season.
As the IPL franchises revealed their player retentions, the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) retained only three players, including Virat Kohli at a whopping ₹21 crore. Following this announcement, speculation has arisen regarding Kohli's potential return to captaincy for IPL 2025. However, former Indian cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar has expressed strong opposition to the idea, arguing that Kohli's recent performances do not justify reinstating him as captain.
Manjrekar challenged RCB fans to consider Kohli's abilities through a different lens, asking them to envision the situation without the influence of Kohli's name and legacy. He stated, "If instead of Virat Kohli, there was someone else... and you just look at his performance in the IPL, his batting and captaincy performance, then you think whether it is the right decision to make him the captain." He noted that despite Kohli having a successful season with over 700 runs, his strike rates of 150 in IPL 2024 and previously between 110-120 do not reflect the impact expected from a top T20 player.
Highlighting his concern about the "hero worship" surrounding Kohli, Manjrekar emphasized the importance of focusing on cricketing logic rather than sentimentality. "As a T20 player, Virat Kohli, does he have the same impact? Just because he is Virat Kohli, 95 percent of fans want him to be the captain. But if you just go by his performances, it is not that impressive."
RCB is currently in search of a new captain after parting ways with former skipper Faf du Plessis. Kohli's tenure as captain began in 2013 when he took over from Daniel Vettori and led RCB to the finals in 2016, where they ultimately fell to Sunrisers Hyderabad. He stepped down from captaincy after the 2021 season.
In a video message following his retention, Kohli expressed excitement about continuing his journey with RCB. "Everyone knows what RCB means to me; it has been a very special relationship over so many years, one that continues to grow stronger," he remarked. Kohli also articulated his ambition for the team, stating, "The goal is to win the title at least once in the next cycle, and we are going to give our best shot as always."
Kohli concluded by thanking the fans for their unwavering support, promising to strive for excellence in the upcoming season as RCB looks to finally secure their maiden IPL title.
