Indian cricket hero Ravichandran Ashwin says he believes Virat Kohli will captain Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in IPL 2025 season. Asked about RCB’s leadership and the strategy of the team, Ashwin said: ‘I was bought by Chennai Super Kings (CSK) recently.
Ashwin Predicts Kohli as Captain
RCB hasn’t opted for any other leadership option in the auction, Ashwin said on his YouTube channel. It is a sign Kohli will likely return to captaincy, he said.
After the end of 2021 IPL season, Kohli stepped down as RCB’s skipper, but is still a key player for the team. Now I’d say in all likelihood he’ll be leading that side in Virat Kohli.” No other captain have they gone for.
I can’t see anyone else leading the team, in fact unless they have a hidden plan,” added Ashwin. Former RCB star AB de Villiers was among the first to predict, earlier, that Kohli will again take captaincy for the 2025 season.
RCB’s Auction Strategy
RCB’s measured approach appreciated by Ashwin in IPL 2025 auction. They didn’t splash the cash early like some franchises did. Ashwin said they played the waiting game very well. “They didn’t luxury spend money and bought players who fitted what they needed.”
“I think their strategy was to build 12/14 guys to make a strong squad,” Carmelo added. RCB added the likes of Tim David, Josh Hazlewood, Liam Livingstone, Phil Salt and Jitesh Sharma. They however did not use their right to match cards on players like Mohammed Siraj, Glenn Maxwell and Faf du Plessis.
Leadership Question Remains
Despite Kohli’s strong presence, RCB management has not confirmed their captain. Mo Bobat, RCB’s Director of Cricket, said during the auction, “Virat is a central figure and a senior member of the team. But we haven’t made a decision about the captaincy yet. We will decide later.”
RCB’s Squad for IPL 2025
RCB’s squad for the upcoming season includes a mix of experienced players and new talent:
- Key players: Virat Kohli, Rajat Patidar, Josh Hazlewood, Liam Livingstone, and Tim David.
- New additions: Phil Salt, Jitesh Sharma, Krunal Pandya, and Romario Shepherd.
Conclusion
RCB fans are hoping the team’s prospects in IPL 2025 are good. If Virat Kohli leads, it would give the stability the side so needs and inspiration to finally end their search for an IPL crown. Right now, the focus is on what the team is saying and the captain announcement that is set to come.
