Virat Kohli and leadership are two words that go hand in hand. Whether he wears the captain’s arm band or not, his presence is felt. When Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) announced Rajat Patidar as their new captain for IPL 2025.
Many expected Kohli to take back the captaincy which he held from 2013 to 2021. But RCB management had other plans. Their message? Kohli doesn’t need a title to lead. And honestly, they’re not wrong.
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Let’s be real Patidar as captain wasn’t on anyone’s bingo card. But dig deeper and the choice starts to make sense. The 31-year-old batter has been a silent warrior for RCB, scoring 799 runs in 27 matches with a strike rate of 159.
He’s also captained Madhya Pradesh in domestic cricket and led them to the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy final. RCB management clearly sees leadership potential in him.
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But the most telling part? Kohli himself was excited and fully on board with the decision. Team director Mo Bobat revealed that Kohli was “excited” about Patidar’s appointment. That’s leadership not just taking charge but lifting others up.
Kohli doesn’t need an official tag to lead—he just does it. Look at IPL 2024. RCB was out of the tournament after winning just one of their first eight games.
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Then came the Kohli effect. Six back-to-back wins, a miracle playoff qualification and 741 runs from Kohli himself. He didn’t just lead with words he did it with the bat, in the field and in the dugout.
Bobat and head coach Andy Flower couldn’t stop raving about Kohli’s intensity, his hunger, his ability to create moments out of nothing.
Even former captain Faf du Plessis leaned on him for guidance and Patidar will likely do the same. When Kohli is in your team, he is the leader official title or not.
RCB’s decision hints at long term thinking. By appointing Patidar, they’re looking beyond the immediate future.
It’s a bold move considering the weight of expectation that comes with leading a team still searching for their first IPL trophy.
But here’s the catch Patidar has never captained an IPL team. Handling the pressure of leading a franchise like RCB especially with a fanbase as passionate as theirs is a huge challenge.
The good news? Kohli is there as a safety net. If things get tough Patidar won’t have to look far for guidance.
At the end of the day Virat Kohli doesn’t need a “C” next to his name to be RCB’s leader. He’s their heartbeat, their driving force and the guy who sets the standard.
As RCB enters a new era under Rajat Patidar one thing is certain Kohli’s presence will be felt in every huddle, every team talk and every big moment.
The captaincy baton might have passed on but make no mistake RCB is still Kohli’s team.
