Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) are set to unveil their new captain for the 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL) season on Thursday. While the franchise has yet to confirm the name, Virat Kohli is widely considered the frontrunner for the role. Kohli, who captained RCB from 2013 to 2021, briefly returned to lead the team in three matches during IPL 2023.
Another potential candidate is middle-order batter Rajat Patidar. The 31-year-old, who has been with RCB since 2021, was one of their three retained players ahead of the mega auction in November. Patidar also brings leadership experience, having captained Madhya Pradesh in the 2024-25 editions of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and Vijay Hazare Trophy.
The need for a new captain arose after RCB opted not to retain Faf du Plessis, who led the team from 2022 to 2024. The franchise did not bid for the 40-year-old South African at the auction, and he was subsequently picked up by Delhi Capitals at his base price.
Du Plessis had succeeded Kohli as RCB captain after the latter stepped down in 2021. Kohli remains the second-most experienced captain in IPL history, having led RCB in 143 matches—just behind MS Dhoni. His record includes 68 wins, 71 losses, and four no-results. Although RCB has yet to secure an IPL title, Kohli guided them to the 2016 final, a season where he amassed a record-breaking 973 runs. In IPL 2024, he was once again the tournament’s top scorer, with 741 runs at a strike rate of 154.69, playing a crucial role in RCB’s late push into the playoffs before their exit in the Eliminator.
With RCB’s captaincy announcement imminent, they join Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Delhi Capitals (DC) as the only teams yet to confirm their captains for IPL 2025. KKR’s 2024 captain, Shreyas Iyer, has moved to Punjab Kings, while former DC skipper Rishabh Pant is now set to lead Lucknow Super Giants.
