Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) reportedly considered replacing Virat Kohli as captain during the 2019 IPL season, with Parthiv Patel emerging as a possible replacement.
Years later, Parthiv has revealed that former RCB coaches Ashish Nehra and Gary Kirsten had told him to be ready for the role.
Parthiv Patel shared the details during an interaction on Aakash Chopra’s YouTube channel.
He said the plan did not move forward after Nehra and Kirsten were replaced following RCB’s last place finish in the 2019 season. Mike Hesson and Simon Katich took charge ahead of IPL 2020.
I never spoke about it, but Moeen Ali mentioned it in an interview I was told, Be ready, we are thinking this for next year. But the next year, the two people who offered it to me were replaced, Parthiv Patel said.
Former England all rounder Moeen Ali had also spoken about the possibility in an interview with Sports Tak in July 2025.
He said Parthiv was seriously considered for the captaincy during Kirsten’s tenure and praised his understanding of the game.
Despite, the proposed change never happened, and Virat Kohli continued as RCB captain until he stepped down after the 2021 season.
Parthiv Patel did not play a single match for RCB in IPL 2020, with AB de Villiers taking over wicketkeeping duties and Devdutt Padikkal opening alongside Kohli.
RCB reached the playoffs that season for the first time since 2016. Faf du Plessis later led the team from 2022 to 2024, before Rajat Patidar took charge in 2025 and guided RCB to their maiden IPL title.
While there is no confirmation that RCB had finalised Kohli’s removal, Parthiv’s Patel suggests that a change in leadership was discussed during a difficult period for the franchise.
