Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) seems ready for a new journey under Virat Kohli’s leadership in the 2025 IPL season. The franchise has formed a strong 22-member squad during the recent auction held in Jeddah. Kohli, who was the captain from 2013 to 2021, is expected to take charge again after discussions with the management, as reported by TimeofIndia.com.
During Kohli’s earlier captaincy, RCB reached the playoffs four times and came very close to winning the title in 2016. Fans are now hopeful that his return as captain can finally help RCB win their first IPL trophy. Former RCB star AB de Villiers also hinted at Kohli’s comeback as captain while praising the new squad.
“I don’t think it is confirmed yet, but I feel he will be the captain, looking at the team,” de Villiers said on his YouTube channel.
RCB made some smart moves in the two-day auction, buying Australian pacer Josh Hazlewood for Rs 12.50 crore, the most expensive among their purchases. They also tried for top players like Rishabh Pant and KL Rahul but maintained a budget, showing their trust in Kohli’s captaincy. Interestingly, the team did not go for a reunion with former captain Faf du Plessis, choosing instead to focus on squad depth and balance.
De Villiers appreciated RCB’s auction strategy, especially in building a strong pace attack with players like Hazlewood, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, and Lungi Ngidi. “We got Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Josh Hazlewood, which is great. We almost got Rabada but managed Ngidi, who has an excellent slower ball. If he stays fit, he can be very effective,” he said.
However, de Villiers pointed out the lack of a quality spinner who can turn the ball both ways, calling it a weak spot. “We missed Ravichandran Ashwin. CSK got him, and it’s nice to see him back in yellow. But we still need a wrist spinner, especially for away matches,” he said.
He suggested that RCB might look at unsold players to fill this gap or explore the idea of a mid-season transfer window. “I wish the IPL and BCCI would allow a transfer window halfway through the tournament. Teams could exchange players or pick from the unsold list. It’s worth thinking about,” de Villiers added.
RCB now has 19 players from the auction and three retained stars. The team, still chasing its first IPL title, hopes Kohli’s leadership and the newly built squad can finally bring them the long-awaited victory.
