Virat Kohli Didn’t Want Captaincy? RCB Star Jitesh Sharma Reveals the Truth

The Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) have finally ended the speculation about their captaincy ahead of IPL 2025. While many fans hoped for Virat Kohli to return as captain, the franchise took a different route by naming Rajat Patidar as the new skipper. This decision has sparked discussions among cricket enthusiasts, with RCB’s latest recruit, Jitesh Sharma, offering some insights into what led to this move.

Kohli’s Captaincy Rumors

Ever since the IPL 2025 auction concluded, rumors were swirling that Kohli might reclaim the captaincy. However, RCB’s management decided to place their trust in Rajat Patidar, a decision seemingly made with a long-term vision in mind.

Jitesh Sharma, who was bought by RCB for INR 11 crore in the recent auction, shared his perspective on this decision in a CricXtasy podcast. He revealed that while he wasn’t officially informed beforehand, he had sensed that Kohli wouldn’t be taking up the leadership role again.

Jitesh Sharma’s Blunt Revelation

During the interview, Jitesh said, “I got to know about Rajat Patidar becoming the captain when everyone else got to know. But when you have been around the game for a while, you understand the flow of things. Virat bhai did not want to captain the side.”

His statement confirms that Kohli himself had no interest in taking up the captaincy again, despite the speculations.

Why Did Kohli Step Back?

When asked about the reasons behind Kohli’s decision, Jitesh admitted he didn’t know the exact details. However, he pointed out that the trend over the last 2-3 seasons indicated that Kohli had moved on from the leadership role.

This isn’t the first time Kohli has distanced himself from captaincy duties. He stepped down as RCB captain after the 2021 season and also relinquished the Indian T20I captaincy. His focus has been on contributing as a player rather than taking on the added pressure of leading the side.

RCB’s Future Under Rajat Patidar

With Rajat Patidar now leading the side, RCB has taken a fresh approach towards leadership. The young batter has shown immense potential in previous seasons, and the franchise is likely backing him to bring stability and success to the team. While Kohli remains the face of RCB, his decision to step away from captaincy could allow him to play with more freedom and focus on his batting.

Fans’ Reactions

RCB fans have had mixed reactions to this announcement. While some are excited about the change, others were hoping for Kohli’s return as captain. However, Jitesh’s comments clarify that the decision wasn’t forced but rather aligned with Kohli’s own preference.

Reference from:-https://sports.ndtv.com/ipl-2025/virat-kohli-didnt-want-rcb-star-jitesh-sharma-spills-beans-on-captaincy-change-drama-7942137