The buzz surrounding the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and their leadership for the upcoming IPL 2025 season has intensified, particularly with former star player AB de Villiers hinting at a potential return of Virat Kohli as captain.
Kohli, who previously captained RCB from 2013 to 2021, stepped down from the role after the 2021 season, but recent developments suggest he may be poised to reclaim the captaincy.
AB de Villiers’ Insight
In a recent video on his official YouTube channel, AB de Villiers expressed his belief that Kohli will return as RCB’s captain for IPL 2025.
De Villiers pointed out that the franchise has not acquired any players with significant captaincy experience during the recent auction, making Kohli the most viable option.
He noted that among the new recruits, only Jitesh Sharma, Krunal Pandya, and Bhuvneshwar Kumar have any captaincy credentials, but collectively they have only led in 15 matches compared to Kohli’s extensive experience of 143 matches as an IPL skipper.
De Villiers stated, “I don’t think it has been confirmed yet, but he will be the captain, I think, looking at the squad.” This statement has sparked excitement among fans who are hopeful for Kohli’s leadership to guide RCB towards their first IPL title.
Kohli’s Previous Tenure
During his previous stint as captain, Kohli led RCB to the playoffs four times (2015, 2016, 2020, and 2021) and came closest to winning the title in 2016 when they finished as runners-up.
Despite his successes in reaching the playoffs, RCB has historically struggled to clinch the championship, which ultimately led to Kohli stepping down from the captaincy role.
| Span | Matches | Won | Lost | Win % |
| 2011-2023 | 143 | 66 | 70 | 46.15% |
Kohli’s departure from leadership was seen as a strategic move to relieve himself of captaincy pressures both in franchise cricket and international formats. However, with no clear successor emerging from recent auctions, RCB may need to rely on their seasoned veteran once again.
Current Squad Dynamics
RCB recently finalized a 22-member squad during the IPL mega auction held in Jeddah. They retained key players including Kohli, alongside Rajat Patidar and Yash Dayal.
The release of former captain Faf du Plessis ahead of the auction left a significant gap in leadership. With no major captaincy candidates acquired during the auction, Kohli’s return appears increasingly likely.
