Earlier the speculation grew about Virat Kohli possibly returning as Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) captain. Rumors intensified when RCB left out current skipper Faf du Plessis from their retention list – fueling hopes that Kohli might retake the leadership role.
However, RCB’s Director of Cricket, Mo Bobat, dismissed the speculation, stating that no decision had been made yet on the team’s captaincy.
“I’m sorry to disappoint everyone listening. We haven’t made any decision on the captaincy or about Kohli returning as skipper just yet. We’re open to options. The only clear decision we made was not to retain Faf. He did a fantastic job last year and the year before. So we’ll keep an open mind as we head into the auction,” Bobat shared with JioCinema after the IPL 2025 retentions were announced.
Kohli who stepped down as RCB captain after the 2021 season, had passed the leadership baton to former South Africa captain Du Plessis, who led RCB for three seasons.
With Du Plessis now out of the squad, questions linger about who will lead the team in 2025. There are reports that Kohli is interested in reclaiming the captaincy, but no official statement has been made.
Following the retention list reveal, RCB coach Andy Flower shared his thoughts on retaining Kohli, Rajat Patidar, and Yash Dayal for the upcoming season.
“We’re thrilled to retain Yash Dayal, an exceptional talent with a promising future. His rare ability as a left-arm bowler who can swing the ball both ways brings great value to our bowling attack, especially in today’s auction landscape,” he said.
He also said that Rajat Patidar is a crucial part of the squad. His remarkable talent and resilience have already left a lasting impact on the team, and he truly embodies the RCB spirit. He further added that the team looks forward to seeing him continue to grow and make his mark in the new season.
