IPL 2019: 3 teams that could change their captain ahead of the new season

The Indian Premier League (IPL) is one most successful T20 leagues in the world. Ever since the first edition of the cash-rich T20 league, it has gained popularity with each passing year. The tournament has captured our attention with its huge sixes, mind-blowing dismissals and unbelievable catches.

The 12th edition of the IPL will be played in 2019 and there will be a lot of changes in the teams. The IPL franchises retained and released several players before the auction, and they went for some players at the auction to fill the voids left in their respective teams.

A few of the teams would also look to change the captains ahead of the next season of the IPL. A successful captain is one who can absorb the pressure and make the correct decisions in the end, and not every team has been lucky to find someone like that in the past.

Here, let us take a look at the three teams that could change their captains ahead of the 12th edition of the IPL.

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#3 Rajasthan Royals

Steve Smith

Rajasthan Royals returned to the IPL in 2018 after serving a two-year ban, and decided to retain Steve Smith for that edition. But the former Aussie skipper could not participate in the IPL due to the ball-tampering incident.

They then appointed Ajinkya Rahane as their new skipper for the 11th edition of the IPL. Under his captaincy, RR qualified for the playoffs.

Ahead of the upcoming edition of the cash-rich T20 league, we can expect a change in captaincy for the Rajasthan franchise. Smith will be completing his one-year suspension in March, and will look to take over the captaincy from Rahane.

Smith is one of the most underrated captains in the IPL. So far, the former Aussie skipper has captained 24 games and won 16, with an impressive winning percentage of about 67. Under his captaincy, Pune went on to reach the finals of IPL 2017.

On the other hand, Rahane has an ordinary record as a captain in the IPL. He has captained 16 games and won 7, with a winning percentage of 43.75.

Smith also has better numbers than Rahane with the bat.

Considering the past records, the Rajasthan franchise could appoint Smith as their skipper for the next season of the IPL.

#2 Sunrisers Hyderabad

David Warner

Under the captaincy of David Warner, Sunrisers Hyderabad clinched their first ever IPL trophy in 2016. They replicated a similar performance in 2018 under Kane Williamson's captaincy; SRH reached the finals, narrowly losing out to Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in 2018.

Along with Steve Smith, Warner was also involved in the ball-tampering saga and was banned for a year by Cricket Australia. The BCCI also followed suit, banning the Aussie duo from participating in IPL 2018.

Despite Williamson's amazing captaincy in 2018, the franchise could appoint Warner as their skipper ahead of the next season of the IPL. As SRH captain, the left-handed batsman has scored more than 2000 runs at an impressive average of 45.58 and a massive strike-rate of 152.60.

Warner, who will be completing his one-year ban in March, is expected to take over the captaincy role from the New Zealand skipper Williamson.

#1 Royal Challengers Bangalore

Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers

Royal Challengers Bangalore is one of the three teams that has never won a trophy in the history of the IPL. The Indian skipper Virat Kohli has been the captain of RCB since 2013, and under his captaincy they lost in the final against Sunrisers Hyderabad in 2016.

Kohli, who has shattered a number of records with the bat, has not had a great captaincy record in the IPL. So far, the Delhi-born cricketer has captained 96 games of which he has won 44, with a winning percentage of about 45.

Appointing AB de Villiers as captain could be a major boost for the Bangalore franchise. The South African cricketer has announced his international retirement and has made himself available for the full season of the IPL. He has a lot of experience of captaining the side in international cricket.

Giving De Villiers the captaincy could help Kohli focus on his batting alone. It would also give the Indian a chance to manage his workload better, so that he gets enough rest ahead of the 50-over World Cup.