‘I Think Virat Kohli is Going to Captain’: Ravichandran Ashwin Makes Bold RCB Captaincy Claim Ahead of IPL 2025

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Ravichandran Ashwin has reignited the debate over Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s (RCB) captaincy, sharing his opinion that Virat Kohli is likely to return to the helm as the team’s skipper in IPL 2025.

The veteran bowler’s remarks came amidst ongoing speculation following RCB's failure to acquire a leadership candidate in the recent auction. RCB’s decision to release Faf du Plessis ahead of the season raised questions about their captaincy plans.

Despite their auction strategies, the franchise has not signed a clear replacement, leaving former skipper Kohli as the apparent frontrunner to lead the side.

“In all likelihood, I think Virat Kohli is going to captain that side,” Ashwin said in a video shared on his YouTube channel. “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.”

The sentiment has been shared by several other key figures in the Royal Challengers’ hierarchy, including RCB’s Director of Cricket Mo Bobat. “Virat is a central figure, he is a senior member of the team,” Bobat said in an interaction with the media. “But we haven’t made any decision when it comes to captaincy. We will decide later on.”

Former RCB star AB de Villiers also weighed in earlier, suggesting Kohli’s return as skipper was on the cards. “I don't think it has been confirmed yet, but he will be the captain, I think, looking at the squad,” the former batter said in a video shared on his YouTube channel.

Kohli, who led RCB from 2013 to 2021, stepped down after IPL 2021, citing the need to focus on his batting. However, his stature within the team and his leadership experience make him a natural choice, especially considering that the team went on to reach the finals of IPL 2016 under his leadership – their best chance of winning the trophy so far.

What Captaincy Options Do RCB Have for IPL 2025 Other Than Virat Kohli?

If Virat Kohli opts against returning as captain, RCB could consider Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who has prior experience leading Sunrisers Hyderabad in an interim capacity. A senior India pacer with ample IPL experience, Bhuvneshwar's leadership skills might suit the franchise despite his limited exposure to full-time captaincy.

Krunal Pandya, another RCB recruit, brings leadership experience from domestic cricket, where he captains Baroda. However, his lack of IPL captaincy experience might make him a riskier choice. Both players present viable but untested alternatives to Kohli’s established leadership.