The RCB decided to let their IPL 2024 captain go after another trophyless campaign. RCB made some smart business moves at auction after going into the event with more funds than many opposing franchises. The franchise added 19 players to 3 retained cricketers to build their 2025 squad.
Several players among the new faces and retained cricketers are likely to become RCB’s next captain in 2025. Let’s check out 3 top players who can captain RCB in IPL 2025 (apart from Virat Kohli) and the qualities each cricketer possesses.
1. Bhuvneshwar Kumar
Kumar was once the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) skipper and has ample experience leading an IPL franchise. He adopts a measured and composed approach to leadership and doesn’t crack under pressure from opposing teams. Many analysts rate Kumar as a born leader after splashing several crore rupees to secure his services.
2. Rajat Patidar
Patidar, Yash Dayal, and Virat Kohli were the only three players retained by RCB from their IPL 2024 squad. The skilled cricketer is one of RCB’s untouchable players and a rock in their middle-order formation. He looks set for prime batting at 31, and many fans and analysts believe this could be his time to lead RCB.
Patidar has captaincy experience in domestic cricket and is the current skipper of Madhya Pradesh at the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT). Patidar can smash mean tons and delivers half-centuries from his middle-order position.
3. Krunal Pandya
Experienced Baroda captain Krunal Pandya is another candidate that could snatch the RCB captaincy ahead of IPL 2025. Pandya has made a name for himself with aggressive spinning prowess, and he brings all that energy to RCB next season.
Will Virat Kohli Return as RCB Captain for IPL 2025?
RCB released the aging Faf du Plessis before 2025’s mega auction after he served as skipper from IPL 2022. His 3-season captaincy didn’t make any notable difference as RCB struggled to assert any form of dominance over opposing teams.
Fans were truly expecting RCB to go for KL Rahul based on his captaincy experience and local ties with the franchise. However, the franchise didn’t secure Rahul’s services, making a Kohli captaincy more likely ahead of IPL 2025.
Kohli is a vital player at RCB and continues to feature as an opener after over 15 seasons at the franchise. He has captained the side on several occasions and no player has led more matches at RCB than the talismanic batter.
| Player | From – To | Matches | Wins | Losses | Ties | Draw | NR | W/L | %W | %L |
| Rahul Dravid | 2008 – 2008 | 14 | 4 | 10 | 0 | Nil | 0 | 0.40 | 28.57 | 71.42 |
| Kevin Pietersen | 2009 – 2009 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 0 | Nil | 0 | 0.50 | 33.33 | 66.66 |
| Anil Kumble | 2009 – 2010 | 35 | 19 | 16 | 0 | Nil | 0 | 1.18 | 54.28 | 45.71 |
| Daniel Vettori | 2011 – 2012 | 28 | 15 | 13 | 0 | Nil | 0 | 1.15 | 53.57 | 46.42 |
| Virat Kohli | 2011 – 2022 | 143 | 66 | 70 | 3 | Nil | 4 | 0.94 | 46.15 | 48.95 |
*stats are accurate as of 2024
RCB’s Director of Cricket Speaks on Potential Kohli Captaincy
Fan speculation over RCB’s next captain continues to gain widespread attention, and such reports have gotten to the franchise’s top execs. RCB director of cricket Mo Bobat has had to comment twice on reports suggesting Kohli’s confirmation as the captain for next season:
“I am sorry to disappoint everybody listening. We have not made any decision related to captaincy or on that (Kohli returning as skipper) as yet. We are open to options. The only obvious decision we made was not to retain Faf. He did a great job last year and the year before that. So from our perspective, we will keep a very open mind when we head to the auction,” Bobat said before the IPL 2025 mega auction and after RCB retained Kohli and two other players.
“Virat is a central figure and a senior member of the team, but we haven’t made any decisions about the captaincy yet. We will decide that later. He did send us some insightful text messages yesterday, offering his feedback,” Bobat said after the IPL auction.
RCB could be planning to keep their pick for IPL 2025 captain secret until the last minute judging from Bobat’s stance pre and post-auction.
BONUS: 2 Overseas Players Who Can Captain RCB in IPL 2025
RCB is one of few franchises that have had an overseas player as franchise captain in recent seasons. The franchise could decide to appoint Phil Salt or Liam Livingstone as team skipper ahead of next season.
