IPL 2025: R Ashwin vouches for Virat Kohli to lead RCB

by Sahil Jain
Virat Kohli - RCB

Virat Kohli is the face of Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB). There are various reports coming in that the 36-year-old is all set to lead the franchise once again in the upcoming season of the IPL 2025.

It was back in 2021 when Kohli announced that he would be stepping down as captain. That was the last season he was RCB’s full-time captain. However, he did lead the team in 2023 when Faf du Plessis was out injured.  

With no obvious captaincy choice, there are many who think that the former India captain will lead RCB once again. Ravichandran Ashwin is one among them. The veteran Tamil Nadu off-spinner who did a detailed analysis of RCB’s squad on his YouTube channel, revealed that he believes Kohli will be RCB captain again.  

In all likelihood, I think Virat Kohli is going to captain that side. That’s the feeling I get because they haven’t gone for a captain. Unless and until they are going to go with somebody else. I don’t see anyone other than Virat as captain,” Ravichandran Ashwin was quoted saying on his YouTube channel.

Kohli will be RCB captain: AB de Villiers

Virat Kohli with AB de Villiers
Virat Kohli with AB de Villiers

RCB and South Africa legend AB de Villiers echoed the same sentiment. He too believes Kohli will don the captaincy armband once again.  

I don’t think it’s been confirmed yet but he [Kohli] will be captain,” AB de Villiers said on his YouTube channel. 

For a change, RCB have not gone after big names and splurged massive money on a specific number of players this time around. They went into the IPL 2025 auctions with a precise plan and seem to have assembled a well-rounded side. Both Ashwin and de Villiers lauded the strategy and the selection. 

Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Krunal Pandya and Jitesh Sharma were the prominent Indian buys for RCB. Meanwhile, Phil Salt, Liam Livingstone, Tim David and Josh Hazlewood were the big overseas additions.  

In the squad, there are a few who have led before. Bhuvneshwar and Krunal have been stand-in captains at different times in their IPL careers. Salt and Livingstone have some captaincy experience as well. Meanwhile, Rajat Patidar has been leading Madhya Pradesh recently. 

However, Kohli seems the most obvious choice. He has led in 143 IPL matches which is the third-most in the history of the league. He has 68 wins, 71 losses and four no-results as captain of RCB. 

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