RCB will make their captain announcement for the upcoming season of IPL 2025 this Thursday in Bengaluru. The announcement is a crucial moment in the life of the franchise as they seek to replace Faf du Plessis’ leadership void after not retaining the South African’s services going into the auction. While the franchise begins a new chapter, fans and analysts alike wait with bated breath to find out who will take up the mantle and lead the team.
Faf du Plessis Not Retained
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Faf du Plessis, who captained RCB between 2022 and 2024, was not retained by the franchise this season. Even though his captaincy saw RCB qualify for the playoffs in all three years, the team chose not to bid for the 40-year-old South African in the auction. Du Plessis was then bought by Delhi Capitals at his base price. His exit places RCB on the hunt for a new captain as they gear up for the 2025 season.
Virat Kohli: The Top Contender for Captaincy
Virat Kohli is a former skipper and one of the strongest contenders for being captain. Kohli led RCB from 2013 to 2021 before stepping down from captaincy at the end of the 2021 season but has stayed on with the team as a prominent member.
He was briefly the interim captain in IPL 2023 for three matches and emphasized that he still wishes to keep helping RCB achieve success. With his experiences and leadership qualities, Kohli is the favorite candidate to re-assume the captaincy again.
The leadership history of Kohli with RCB is noteworthy. He led the team for nine seasons and captained a total of 143 matches—the second position for any IPL captain, after MS Dhoni. His records as captain say 68 wins and 70 defeats, with four no-results.
Although RCB has not won an IPL title in his tenure, Kohli led the team to the final in 2016, where they were narrowly beaten by Sunrisers Hyderabad. Kohli achieved a phenomenal record in that season, scoring 973 runs, which is an IPL season record.
Rajat Patidar: An Alternative Option
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A candidate for the captaincy could be middle-order bat Rajat Patidar, a member of RCB since 2021. Patidar has been in the news after some good performances for RCB, especially his game-winning innings during the 2022 season. The Patidar, who is 31 years old, was one of the three retained players by RCB before the auction, indicating his significance for the franchise.
Patidar also brings in some decent leadership skills. He captained his state team, Madhya Pradesh, in both the 2024-25 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and the Vijay Hazare Trophy, thus placing him in favorable contention for RCB’s captaincy. While he lacks the extensive IPL leadership experience of a Kohli, Patidar’s performances and domestic leadership will still hold him in good stead for RCB.
RCB’s Leadership Transition
The appointment of a new captain at this critical time for RCB, who have been one of the most steady sides in the IPL without ever winning the desired trophy, has seen the team seek to cash in on previous performances and end their first-time IPL title success.
Kohli’s return as captain would provide continuity for the team, while Patidar might be the start of a new leadership chapter for the franchise. The coming announcement will definitely set the tone for RCB’s 2025 season, and fans can’t wait to know who is going to be in charge.
Other IPL Teams Yet to Announce Captains
RCB is not the only IPL franchise that has not yet named its captain for the next season. Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Delhi Capitals (DC) are also finalizing their captains. KKR, in fact, will have a new captain following Shreyas Iyer’s move to captain Punjab Kings this season. Meanwhile, former DC captain Rishabh Pant will be captaining Lucknow Super Giants, creating another leadership gap at Delhi.
The speculation surrounding the captaincy roles of these franchises gives the IPL 2025 season an additional layer of drama, so the announcements made will be that much more important.
A Make-or-Break Decision for RCB
Declaring a new captain for IPL 2025 is a make-or-break decision for RCB, as they aim to improve on the previous seasons’ successes and finally get their hands on the IPL title. Whether they choose the seasoned Virat Kohli or the newcomer Rajat Patidar, the captaincy decision will decide the strategy and morale of the team going into the new season. As the date for the announcement approaches, followers and pundits await with bated breath to know who will be leading the team in the IPL 2025.
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