IPL Auction 2025: Virat Kohli issues an official statement to RCB on captaincy
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In a huge development for Royal Challengers Bengaluru ahead of the IPL 2025 season, Virat Kohli could mark his return as the team's captain. Kohli is already the biggest player in the franchise and could be RCB's captain for the upcoming season.
Kohli's return could mean the end of the road for Faf du Plessis with RCB. Du Plessis led the team in three IPL seasons, in 2022, 2023, and 2024. Under his captaincy, RCB reached the playoffs on two occasions, in 2022 and 2024 but could not make it to the final.
Also read: IPL Retention 2025 Live Updates: KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant, Shreyas Iyer hang in the balance
Virat Kohli wants to be RCB's captain: Reports
According to ESPNCricinfo, star cricketer Virat Kohli has made his intentions clear that he wants to be the captain of Royal Challengers Bengaluru again. However, his appointment as RCB's next captain is not official yet.
🚨| Big Breaking: Virat Kohli has made himself clear that he wants to be the RCB Captain again. (ESPNCricinfo)#RCB #IPL2025 #IPL pic.twitter.com/xAsRglxGx9
— RCBIANS OFFICIAL (@RcbianOfficial) October 29, 2024
Virat Kohli to captain RCB again 😭🎀 pic.twitter.com/7L5onEsEsp
— divz (@kohlizype) October 29, 2024
Although Kohli has made his intentions clear, it is believed that it is just an option. The RCB management will see how it plays out in the upcoming IPL 2025 mega auction and then decide on their captain. Kohli is certainly an option and could return as the new skipper.
If Virat Kohli is appointed the captain again, it will be his second stint as RCB's captain. The 35-year-old's previous captaincy stint with RCB was during 2013-2021. He was appointed the full-time captain of RCB in 2013 and led the team till 2021. He left the role before the IPL 2022 mega auction.
Under his captaincy, Royal Challengers Bengaluru reached the IPL final once in 2016 where they lost to Sunrisers Hyderabad in the summit clash. RCB reached the playoffs four times during this tenure but unfortunately, the coveted title always eluded them.
End of the road for Faf du Plessis with RCB?
Virat Kohli's appointment also signals the end of the road for Faf du Plessis as RCB captain. Du Plessis has led the team in the last three years in which the team has finished in the top four twice.
Faf du Plessis opened the batting alongside Virat Kohli during this tenure and the pair proved to be destructive enough to scale new heights for the team. However, Du Plessis is 40 now which makes the franchise rethink his future with the team.
He is unlikely to be retained, although, the franchise might use the Right to Match (RTM) card for the legendary South African player.
RCB set to sign KL Rahul
RCB will be going hard for KL Rahul, who is unlikely to be retained by Lucknow Super Giants this season. If they manage to snap up Rahul, he is likely to be appointed as the captain as well. But if things do not go as planned, Kohli is likely to return as captain.
The deadline to submit the final list of retained players has been set for October 31 for all the franchises. The teams can retain a maximum of six players and a maximum of two uncapped Indian players.
