IPL 2025: Virat Kohli can't handle pressure? Ex-cricketer reveals why Rajat Patidar got RCB captaincy
Published - 17 Feb 2025, 02:36 PM | Updated - 17 Feb 2025, 11:34 PM
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Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) have recently surprised one and all by deciding not to hand over the captaincy to Virat Kohli for IPL 2025, despite the former captain being one of the top contenders. Instead, RCB chose to go with the relatively inexperienced Rajat Patidar.
This decision has left many surprised, especially since Virat Kohli would have been a natural choice for the Royal Challengers Bengaluru, given his experience as a leader and a senior figure in the team. Now, reacting to the RCB’s bold move ahead of the IPL 2025, Sanjay Manjrekar believes this was a strategic move by the franchise to avoid adding pressure on Kohli.
Sanjay Manjrekar hails RCB's decision to keep Virat Kohli free from captaincy pressure
The cricket pundit has pointed out that the 36-year-old former Indian skipper has been performing exceptionally well in the IPL, and that’s why the Bengaluru-based franchise felt it was best to let Kohli focus on his game without the burden of captaincy.
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He felt that Bengaluru made a smart move by not handing the captaincy to Kohli for IPL 2025, and it could be a game-changer for both the Indian batting maestro and the franchise in the next season. The former Indian batter mentioned that Kohli is currently in a "nothing-to-lose" zone, as he compared the call to the dramatic moments in reality shows, where contestants, nearing the end, often let loose and perform without any pressure and restrictions.
When someone is in the nothing-to-lose zone...: Sanjay Manjrekar's bold take on RCB's move ahead of IPL 2025
Sanjay Manjrekar was quoted as saying on Star Sports, “I thought RCB took a very good decision. They didn't want to put pressure on Virat Kohli by giving him the responsibility of captaincy. When someone is in the nothing-to-lose zone, you must have seen reality shows when someone is out of the race or singing in his farewell round.”
Meanwhile, Manjrekar also predicted that both Kohli and Rohit Sharma will have a great IPL 2025 season, which will kick off on March 22, with a match between Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and the defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at Eden Gardens in Kolkata.
Sanjay Manjrekar predicts a big season for both Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma
He signed off by saying, “I think the best of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli in recent times will be seen in this IPL. These two big brands of Indian cricket are together in this game.”
Notably, Kohli is the highest run-scorer in IPL history, with 8,004 runs at an average of 38.66. He has so far hammered 8 centuries and 55 half-centuries in the league. In the last season, Kohli was in exceptional form, scoring 741 runs at an average of 61.75, and had won the Orange Cap.
The former Indian skipper helped Royal Challengers Bengaluru reach the IPL 2024 playoffs, winning seven consecutive matches before being eliminated with a four-wicket loss to Rajasthan Royals (RR) in the Eliminator, and yet again, their dream of winning the maiden title remained a dream. Kohli is currently preparing for the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy 2025.
