Virat Kohli’s Return as RCB Captain: A Critical Analysis
As Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) prepares for the upcoming IPL 2025 mega auction, the question of who will lead the franchise has become a topic of intense speculation. While Virat Kohli’s name has been prominently mentioned, former Indian cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar has raised concerns about the wisdom of such a move.
Manjrekar argues that fans should set aside their admiration for Kohli and objectively assess his recent performances. He points out that Kohli’s T20 batting has declined in recent years, and his captaincy record with RCB has been mixed.
“Just because he is Virat Kohli, 95% of fans want him to be the captain,” said Manjrekar. “But if you just go by his performances, it is not that impressive.”
Manjrekar suggests that RCB fans consider the possibility of a different captain, someone who may be better suited to the demands of T20 cricket. He emphasizes that Kohli’s past achievements should not overshadow the need for a critical evaluation.
“I just have one question from the fans,” Manjrekar added. “If instead of Virat Kohli, there was someone else, you just remove Virat Kohli from your mind, and just look at his performance in the IPL, his batting and captaincy performance. Then you think whether it is the right decision to make him the captain.”
Kohli led RCB from 2013 to 2021, guiding the team to one IPL final in 2016. However, his batting form suffered a significant dip between 2020 and 2022. In the last two seasons, he has regained some of his old form, scoring over 600 runs and winning the Orange Cap in 2024.
Despite his recent resurgence, Manjrekar believes that Kohli’s overall T20 record does not warrant an automatic return to the captaincy. He suggests that RCB should explore other options, including younger players who may be better equipped to handle the challenges of modern T20 cricket.
