Virat Kohli Expected To Lead Royal Challengers Bengaluru In IPL 2025, Says Ravichandran Ashwin

Ravichandran Ashwin has sparked discussions about the Royal Challengers Bengaluru's (RCB) captaincy. He believes Virat Kohli might return as the team's leader in IPL 2025. This speculation follows RCB's inability to secure a captain in the recent auction, especially after releasing Faf du Plessis before the season.

Despite their auction strategies, RCB hasn't found a clear captaincy replacement. This leaves former skipper Kohli as the likely candidate to lead the team again. "In all likelihood, I think Virat Kohli is going to captain that side," Ashwin stated on his YouTube channel. "That's the feeling I get because they haven't gone for a captain."

If Kohli decides not to take up the captaincy, RCB could consider Bhuvneshwar Kumar. He has led Sunrisers Hyderabad temporarily and has significant IPL experience. Although he lacks extensive full-time captaincy exposure, his leadership skills could benefit RCB.

Krunal Pandya is another option for RCB. He leads Baroda in domestic cricket but lacks IPL captaincy experience, making him a riskier choice. Both players offer potential yet unproven alternatives to Kohli's well-established leadership.

Several key figures within RCB share Ashwin's views, including Mo Bobat, RCB's Director of Cricket. "Virat is a central figure, he is a senior member of the team," Bobat mentioned during a media interaction. However, he added that no decision on captaincy has been made yet.

AB de Villiers, a former RCB star, also hinted at Kohli's possible return as captain. "I don't think it has been confirmed yet, but he will be the captain, I think," de Villiers said on his YouTube channel while discussing the squad.

Kohli led RCB from 2013 to 2021 before stepping down after IPL 2021 to focus on his batting. His leadership saw RCB reach the finals in IPL 2016, marking their best chance at winning the trophy so far.

Kohli's stature and leadership experience make him an obvious choice for captaincy again. His previous tenure as skipper demonstrated his ability to guide the team effectively through challenging tournaments.