RCB to Reveal New Captain for IPL 2025 on February 13
The Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) will announce their new captain for the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 season on Thursday, February 13. Fans can catch the announcement live on the Star Sports Network at 11:30 AM IST.
After Virat Kohli stepped down as captain post the 2021 season, Faf du Plessis took charge for three seasons, leading the team in 42 matches with a record of 21 wins and 21 losses.
Du Plessis joined RCB during the 2022 auction for ₹7 crore after some intense bidding among teams, including the Chennai Super Kings and Delhi Capitals. However, ahead of IPL 2025, RCB has decided to part ways with Du Plessis, prompting the team to search for a new leader.
Virat Kohli, who previously captained RCB from 2013 until 2021, is the most experienced player in the squad. However, there remains uncertainty about whether he would be willing to take on the captaincy role again.
Under Kohli’s leadership, RCB played 143 matches, winning 66 and losing 70, with three matches ending in ties and four without a result. Although he didn’t lead RCB to a championship win, he was a prolific scorer, amassing 4,994 runs as captain, including five centuries and 37 fifties.
Could Rajat Patidar Step Up?
Another name in the mix for the captaincy is Rajat Patidar. The talented batsman has captained various teams in Indian domestic cricket, notably leading Madhya Pradesh to the finals of the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 Trophy 2024. In that final match, Madhya Pradesh lost to Mumbai, but Patidar shone with an impressive 81 runs off just 40 balls.
His overall performance in the tournament was remarkable, finishing as the third-highest run-scorer, with 428 runs at an average of 61.14 and a strike rate of 186.08 over ten matches. For RCB, Patidar has scored a total of 799 runs in 27 games, with his highest achievement being a score of 112 against Lucknow Super Giants in the IPL 2022 Eliminator.
Last season, RCB managed to bounce back with a seven-match winning streak to secure a playoff spot. However, they were eliminated after a four-wicket loss to Rajasthan Royals in the Eliminator.
RCB has been a part of the IPL since its inception, alongside the Punjab Kings, but still seeks its first title, making the upcoming captaincy announcement a significant moment for the team and its supporters.
