As the cricketing world awaited the release of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 retention lists, rumors spread that Virat Kohli will return as Royal Challengers Bengaluru captain. The speculation grew after the RCB removed skipper Faf du Plessis from the retention list, increasing fans’ hopes that Kohli may restore the team’s captaincy. However, RCB’s Director of Cricket Mo Bobat refuted claims concerning Kohli’s captaincy, adding that the team has yet to make a decision.
Kohli stood down as RCB captain following the 2021 season, letting a new leader to emerge. The franchise handed over ownership to former South African captain Du Plessis, who led the team for three seasons. However, with Du Plesiss’ release from the team,
the team’s captaincy in the 2025 season remains uncertain.
“I apologize for disappointing everyone listening. We are still to choose captaincy or if Kohli will return as leader. We are open to many options. The one obvious decision we made was not to keep Faf. He performed an excellent job last year and the year before that. So, from our standpoint, we would approach the auction with an open mind,” Bobat told JioCinema after the IPL 2025 retentions were revealed.
It has been believed that Kohli is eager to resume his captaincy of the team, however formal confirmation still needs to be made. Following the retention messages, RCB coach Any Flower outlined why Kohli, Rajat Patidar, and Yash Dayal trio were retained for the upcoming season.
His unique talent as a left-arm bowler who can swing the ball in both directions adds a crucial facet to our bowling assault – one that is becoming increasingly rare in the auction scene,” he stated. His tremendous talent and resilience have already had a huge impact on our team, and he epitomizes the true spirit of RCB. “We are excited to see him continue to develop and shine in the coming season,” said the Zimbabwe veteran.