Royal Challengers Bengaluru head coach opens up on Virat Kohli potentially leading RCB in IPL 2025

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) head coach Andy Flower shared an update on Virat Kohli potentially leading the franchise again in the 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL). The three-time finalists are looking for a new leader after parting ways with Faf du Plessis at the end of the previous cycle in 2024.

After the mega auction, RCB are not spoilt with choices as far as captaincy is concerned. Kohli remains a firm option, having led the franchise in the past, and having extensive captaincy experience at the international level too. Other players in the squad like Rajat Patidar, Krunal Pandya, Liam Livingstone, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, and Phil Salt have sporadic captaincy experience but are largely left-field options rather than concrete ones.

RCB Director of Cricket Mo Babat stated that the franchise has not decided on captaincy after the mega auction. Head coach Andy Flower, in an interview with Sports Tak, reiterated that no approach has been made to Kohli so far.

"Well, you're going to have to wait for the outcome. It's a new era that we are going into, start of a three-year cycle, and I'm sure the anticipation will be good for you," Flower said ahead of the third season of ILT20 in the UAE.

You can ask me as often as you like, but that communication has not happened yet," Flower clarified.

Kohli was recently the stand-in captain for India during the fifth Test against Australia in Sydney. With Rohit Sharma opting out of the clash, and skipper Jasprit Bumrah off the field with an injury, the veteran batter led the troops in the series finale.

Kohli stepped down as RCB captain in 2021, but led in four matches during IPL 2023

Kohli's leadership journey with RCB began on a sporadic basis in 2011 and 2012, before being appointed full-time in 2013. He guided the team into the finals in 2016 and eventually chose to step down after the 2021 season.

Since then, despite not being the official captain, he has been a pivotal figure in the dressing room, serving as Faf du Plessis' deputy. The ace batter even stepped in to lead the side during the 2023 season when the South African veteran was dealing with an injury, forcing him to play as an impact player.