IPL 2025: Chennai veteran reveals why Virat Kohli didn't become RCB captain

Former Team India cricketer Kris Srikkanth stated that star batter Virat Kohli would have personally declined the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) captaincy. Kris Srikkanth also backed the appointment of Rajat Patidar, adding that he will bring a fresh leadership perspective with lower expectations.

RCB made a surprising decision by naming Rajat Patidar as their fourth Indian captain on February 13. Many had predicted that Virat Kohli would return to the leadership role after stepping down in 2021. Patidar was one of three players retained by RCB ahead of the auction, alongside Kohli and Yash Dayal.

Virat Would Have Said No to the Captaincy - Kris Srikkanth

Speaking on his YouTube channel Cheeky Cheeka, Kris Srikkanth stated that Virat Kohli likely chose not to return as RCB captain. He added that Kohli prioritized his batting and that the decision was made after discussions with him.

"I think Virat would have said no to the captaincy. He would have said 'I want to focus on batting'. I think all this must have happened in consultation with Virat Kohli," Srikkanth said, as quoted by India Today.

At RCB’s official announcement event in Bengaluru, Team Director Mo Bobat stated that Virat had influence within the franchise leadership, even when Faf du Plessis was captain last season. He added that Kohli's impact goes beyond a formal title, as leadership comes naturally to him.

Rajat Patidar Has Been Doing Well in the IPL - Kris Srikkanth

Kris Srikkanth also praised RCB’s decision to appoint Rajat Patidar as captain, calling him a good choice due to his consistent IPL performances. He compared the situation to MS Dhoni’s unexpected captaincy in the 2007 T20 World Cup. Srikkanth stated that Patidar will have fewer expectations.

"Rajat Patidar is a good choice. He has been doing well in the IPL. The good thing is he will not have a lot of expectations. When we appointed Dhoni in 2007 as the T20 World Cup captain, not a lot was expected of him and the team. It's a bit like that...Expectations from Rajat Patidar as a captain are not high. He will take his own calls. He will consult Virat Kohli, who will be a guiding force," he added.

Virat Kohli Never Won an IPL Title as Captain

Virat Kohli led RCB from 2013 to 2021 before stepping down. He never won an IPL title as captain, but he played a key role in building RCB's brand. Kohli led the team in 143 matches, securing 66 wins, 70 losses, three ties, and four no-results. RCB reached the IPL final in 2016 but fell short of the trophy.

Rajat Patidar has become only the fourth Indian to captain RCB in the IPL, joining the list of Rahul Dravid, Anil Kumble, and Kohli. He was part of the squad in 2021 and returned in 2022 as a replacement after going unsold in the auction. Since then, he has established himself as a key player for the franchise.

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