IPL 2023, PBKS vs RCB: Why is Virat Kohli captaining despite regular captain Faf du Plessis playing vs Punjab

Add as a preferred source on Google

IPL 2023: Virat Kohli, on Thursday, took field as captain for the first time after January 2022. Royal Challengers Bangalore's (RCB) regular captain Faf du Plessis is playing the match against Punjab Kings (PBKS) in Mohali on Thursday as an Impact Player. He is nursing an injury he picked during his last outing.

Kohli stepped down from the RCB captaincy after the 2021 season. The same year saw the 34-year-old lead India for the last time in T20Is. Later in December 2021, Kohli was sacked as the ODI captain of India.

The star batter then opted to step down as the Test captain following the Test series against South Africa. Since then, Kohli has played only as a specialist batter for all the teams he has represented.

"Faf potentially can't be fielding today, so he'll be playing as an impact player, switching with Vyshak. We got to do what we wanted, we would have batted first, the pitch could get slow, some scuff marks will help the bowlers going deep into the game.

"Taking one game at a time, focussing on our own game, make the most of crunch situations, we haven't done that so far in the tournament. No other changes for us," Kohli said at the toss ahead of the match.

Sam Curran is leading Punjab Kings (PBKS) in the absence of Shikhar Dhawan who is missing his second straight match due to a shoulder injury. Curran opted to ball first after winning the toss.

The good news for Punjab is that Liam Livingstone is featuring in the eleven for the first time in IPL 2023. Nathan Ellis has replaced Kagiso Rabada in the match for the hosts.