New Delhi: The Internet is rife with reports and rumours of players being retained and released by the franchises ahead of the IPL retention day. All 10 teams will announce the list of retained players on the deadline day on October 31 ahead of the mega-auction. Among the big guns, Virat Kohli’s name is also doing the rounds on the internet a day before the deadline ends.
While Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) are all but certain to retain him as a player, several reports which indicate his return as the captain of the franchise have also dominated the headlines since morning.
As per an ESPNcricinfo “Retention Chatters” video, RCB could see a potential leadership shift with Kohli replacing Faf du Plessis as the captain in the 2025 edition. Du Plessis, 40, is likely to be released by the RCB ahead of the mega-auction which could potentially mark a return to Kohli’s long-standing franchise role.
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Du Plessis has led RCB in the past three years, leading them to the playoffs in 2022 and 2024. While the South African has proved his credentials as a decent leader, the Challengers are yet to taste success in the IPL.
The long drought could see a change in leadership role and Kohli is tipped to return to the hot seat.
Is Kohli the right choice as RCB captain?
According to a report in TOI, Kohli is set to take over the reins of the franchise after holding discussions with the stakeholders.
If Kohli is re-appointed as the leader, he will return to take the top role three years after handing over the reins to Du Plessis. Having joined the franchise in the inaugural season in 2008, he was appointed as the full-time captain in 2013 and led the Challengers for almost a decade. Under his leadership, RCB reached the final in 2016, wherein they lost to SRH, who clinched their maiden title in the process.
While Kohli has always led from the front with his batting, fielding and leadership displays, the IPL title remains elusive for the superstar batter and the Bengaluru-based franchise. His captaincy record is far from impressive losing more matches than winning.
The Delhi dasher has led RCB in 140 matches, winning 66 and losing as many as 70.
As big a player and a leader Kohli is, why would RCB appoint a leader with a proven poor track record, especially when they will have plenty of potential captaincy options in the auction pool?
Kohli relinquished RCB captaincy duties in 2022 to manage workload and form. Since then Kohli has aged three more years and is currently going through a lean patch in international cricket.
Looking at the current scenario, would it be wise to re-appoint him as the leader and put more pressure on an already under-pressure batter?
RCB, a team with a massive fan base, almost as big as Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings, enter every edition with massive expectations and ambitions to win the title. Returning empty-handed in all 17 decisions, RCB would be desperate to end the trophy jinx and to achieve the elusive dream they would want a proven performer who has the experience of leading the team to IPL glory.
Moreover, RCB’s management should also opt for a younger, more long-term captaincy option, looking at the present and the future of the franchise.
