AB de Villiers, the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) legend, has dropped a significant hint about Virat Kohli returning as the captain for the 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL). This revelation follows RCB’s bold decisions during the mega auction, including releasing Faf du Plessis and opting not to purchase high-profile names like Rishabh Pant, KL Rahul, or Shreyas Iyer.
The franchise surprised fans by not retaining Faf du Plessis, who was acquired by Delhi Capitals for ₹2 crore, nor using their Right to Match (RTM) card on key players like Mohammed Siraj or Glenn Maxwell. Instead, RCB focused on assembling a versatile squad with new additions such as Phil Salt, Liam Livingstone, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, and Josh Hazlewood.
De Villiers fueled speculation about Kohli’s return as captain, stating on his YouTube channel: “It’s not official yet, but Virat Kohli looks set to lead the squad.” If confirmed, Kohli would reclaim the leadership role he held from 2013 to 2021. The veteran also stepped in as interim captain for three matches in 2023 when Faf was injured.
Under Kohli’s captaincy, RCB reached the IPL final in 2016, though his overall record stands at 143 matches with 66 wins and 70 losses. Kohli’s return would also extend his unique streak of representing RCB across all 18 IPL seasons, the only player to do so.
The 2025 season promises to be a thrilling chapter for RCB, with a renewed focus on building a dynamic team while reigniting Kohli’s leadership era. Fans eagerly await confirmation of this leadership change as RCB aims to secure its elusive maiden IPL title.
