Will Virat Kohli's Return as RCB Captain Ignite Glory or Repeat Old Mistakes in IPL 2025?
Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) have created a storm ahead of the 2025 IPL season by announcing just three retentions: Virat Kohli, Rajat Patidar, and Mukesh Kumar Dayal. With Faf du Plessis not retained, Virat Kohli is expected to take over the captaincy once more. Kohli previously led the franchise from 2013 to 2021, reaching the IPL final in 2016 but failing to bring the trophy home. However, this decision has divided opinions, with former cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar urging fans to assess Kohli's recent T20 form without bias. Manjrekar suggests that Kohli's recent batting and leadership statistics may not justify his return to RCB's captaincy, pointing out that his T20 effectiveness might have waned since his prime. As fans react, this contentious debate puts Kohli's leadership under intense scrutiny once more.
Arpit Shakya 
INDC Network : Cricket : The Indian Premier League (IPL) has seen its share of thrilling captaincy debuts and unexpected appointments. Yet few decisions have ignited as much debate as Royal Challengers Bangalore’s (RCB) anticipated choice to reinstate Virat Kohli as their captain for the 2025 season. RCB has opted to retain only three players—Kohli, Rajat Patidar, and Mukesh Kumar Dayal—before the IPL mega auction, indicating a strategic shift with Kohli seemingly returning to the leadership role after Faf du Plessis’s departure. This decision has stirred both excitement and skepticism as fans and analysts weigh Kohli's performance.
Virat Kohli, who led RCB from 2013 to 2021, is one of the most iconic figures in modern cricket. Under his captaincy, the team reached its peak performance in the 2016 season, securing a place in the finals but falling short of victory. Despite this, Kohli stepped down from captaincy in 2022, passing the baton to Faf du Plessis, a move many fans hoped would bring fresh energy and perspective to the team. However, with du Plessis not retained, all eyes are back on Kohli, whose leadership tenure will once again be tested.
Yet this decision has not come without controversy. Former India cricketer and commentator Sanjay Manjrekar has voiced concerns, urging RCB fans to look at the decision with an unbiased eye. He has challenged the community to critically assess Kohli’s recent performance, separating his legendary status from his effectiveness in T20 cricket today. In a recent interview on Star Sports, Manjrekar stated, “I just have one question for the fans. If instead of Virat Kohli, there was someone else...just look at his performance in the IPL—his batting and captaincy performance. Then think if it is the right decision to make him the captain.”
Manjrekar’s analysis sheds light on a crucial point: Kohli’s T20 record has not been as impressive in recent years compared to his earlier performances. While Kohli remains a powerhouse in the Test cricket arena, his T20 form has faced challenges. Manjrekar expressed this view openly, noting, “As a Test player, Virat is out of form but India still needs him. In T20s, I don't think Virat is as great a T20 player as he was 5-6 or 7-8 years ago.”
While Kohli's presence brings a unique aura and undeniable fan support, the question remains whether these factors alone can justify his return as RCB's captain. Manjrekar's perspective underscores a sentiment that fans often find difficult to confront—the need to look beyond “hero worship” and evaluate performance metrics in a fast-evolving T20 format. For Kohli, known for his fierce competitive spirit and determination, this captaincy will be an opportunity to prove his adaptability and silence critics.
As Kohli prepares to lead RCB once more, fans find themselves at a crossroads between loyalty and realistic expectations. RCB’s journey under Kohli has been eventful but marked by missed opportunities. If Kohli can harness his experience, it may be enough to turn his leadership legacy around. Otherwise, RCB could find themselves revisiting old patterns.
For Kohli, this season could be a career-defining moment, and for RCB, it might mean the difference between breaking their title drought or revisiting familiar heartbreaks.
