Speculations are doing rounds that Virat Kohli could lead Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in IPL 2025. Kohli stepped down as RCB captain after IPL 2021, however, with the franchise releasing Faf du Plessis, Kohli's name as a leader popped up again.

Kohli was RCB captain between 2013 to 2016, making him the third-longest serving skipper in IPL with 143 matches after MS Dhoni (226) and Rohit Sharma (158). Kohli led RCB to 66 wins, including a run to the 2016 IPL final where the team lost to Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH).

Also Read: RCB IPL 2025 Retentions: Virat Kohli Retained For 21 Crore, Captain Faf du Plessis Released

Mo Bobat, Director of Cricket for the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), addressed the rumours around Kohli's return as captain and said the franchise is yet to decide on the matter, adding they will look out for a leader in the mega auction before making a final call. As per reports, the franchise is also looking at KL Rahul as a possible captain.

“I am sorry to disappoint everybody listening. We have not made any decision related to captaincy or on that (Kohli returning as skipper) as yet. We are open to options. The only obvious decision we made was not to retain Faf. He did a great job last year and the year before that. So from our perspective, we will keep a very open mind when we head to the auction,” he told JioCinema.

RCB Retentions For IPL 2025

Meanwhile, RCB retained just three players - Virat Kohli (21 crore), Rajat Patidar (11 crore), and Yash Dayal (5 crore) for IPL 2025. RCB, however, have three RTMs left which they can utilise at the mega auction.

While speaking on the retentions other than Kohli, RCB coach Andy Flower lavished praise on the talents and said the players add value to the squad.

"We are thrilled to retain Yash Dayal, an extraordinary talent whose career is on an upward trajectory. His unique ability as a left-arm bowler, capable of swinging the ball in both directions, adds a valuable dimension to our bowling attack - one that is increasingly rare in the auction landscape."

"Rajat Patidar is a key member of our squad. His exceptional talent and resilience have already made a significant impact on our team, and he truly embodies the spirit of RCB. We are excited to see him continue to develop and shine in the upcoming season."

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