Virat Kohli is poised to take over as Royal Challengers Bengaluru captain to fill the leadership void created by Faf du Plessis‘ age (40) and steer the team forward. The Indian Premier League (IPL) franchises are at a point where they’re set to announce their retentions and enter the mega auction next month with plan to build for years to come.
It is not the first time Kohli will lead RCB, who have never won a trophy but came close under his leadership in 2016.
Kohli’s previous tenure as RCB captain spanned from 2013 to 2021, making him one of the longest-serving captains in IPL history. Only MS Dhoni (226) and Rohit Sharma (158) have played more IPL matches as captain than Kohli (143).
Under Kohli’s leadership in 143 IPL matches, RCB won 66, lost 70, tied three and four finished without a result. It puts his win percentage at 46.15% and a win-loss ratio of 0.94.
Despite his strong individual performances, including being the tournament’s highest run-scorer in 2016 with a record-breaking 973 runs, Kohli was unable to bring an IPL title to Bangalore.
Under his leadership, RCB reached the playoffs multiple times, notably finishing as runners-up in 2016, where they were outdone by Sunrisers Hyderabad in the final.
Kohli’s leadership style often emphasised aggression and tenacity, and his batting achievements made him an anchor in the team.
In 2021, Kohli stepped down as captain, remaining with the team as a player. Faf du Plessis took over as RCB captain thereafter and the team have finished fourth, sixth and fourth in the last three seasons.
