Rajat Patidar the Right Choice as RCB Captain, Virat Kohli Uninterested in Leadership: Jitesh Sharma

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Royal Challengers Bangalore's (RCB) newly recruited wicketkeeper Jitesh Sharma has shed light on the franchise's captaincy decision for the upcoming IPL 2025 season.

With RCB opting for Rajat Patidar as their skipper, Jitesh hinted that Virat Kohli had no intention of reclaiming the leadership role.

After releasing Faf du Plessis ahead of the 2025 mega-auction, RCB found itself in search of a new captain. Speaking on the CricXtasy podcast, Jitesh shared his thoughts on the decision, stating that he had an inkling about Patidar's appointment but only received confirmation through RCB's social media announcement.

"I got to know about Rajat Patidar becoming the captain when everyone else did. But when you are around the game long enough, you start understanding the flow of things. Virat bhai did not want to lead the side," Jitesh revealed. However, he quickly added, "I don't know the reason why. I am not involved in the management, but since he hasn't captained in the last 2-3 years, it seemed unlikely that he would take it up this year. Rajat was the best choice."

Jitesh's Role at RCB

Jitesh, who was acquired by RCB for a staggering Rs 11 crore, was previously with Punjab Kings before the franchise decided not to retain him. The bidding war for the wicketkeeper-batter escalated rapidly, with PBKS initially matching an offer of Rs 7 crore before RCB ultimately secured his services at a much higher price.

Discussing his potential contribution beyond wicketkeeping and batting, Jitesh expressed his willingness to support Patidar in leadership duties. "Rajat definitely deserves this opportunity. He has been with RCB for years, and I have played a lot of cricket with him. I will certainly assist him with captaincy whenever needed," he said.

RCB's Overhaul for IPL 2025

RCB has undergone a major squad overhaul for the 2025 season, parting ways with senior players like du Plessis, Glenn Maxwell, and Mohammed Siraj. The team has a revamped bowling attack and a fresh middle order, with a new leadership dynamic under Patidar.

With Kohli choosing to remain in a senior role rather than returning as captain, all eyes will be on Patidar and how he steers the franchise in the upcoming season.