The Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) finalized their 22-member squad for the 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL) following a two-day auction this week, but the captaincy remains an unresolved issue. While several names have been mentioned as potential leaders, former RCB batter AB de Villiers has sparked speculation by hinting that Virat Kohli will return as the team’s captain for the upcoming season. Virat Kohli, who led RCB for several years before stepping down in 2021, guided the team to the IPL final in 2016, marking their last appearance in the title clash.
AB De Villiers, widely regarded as one of the legends of the game, expressed confidence in Virat Kohli’s leadership capabilities in a recent video on his official YouTube channel. He stated, “I don’t think it has been confirmed yet, but he will be the captain, I think, looking at the squad.” This statement further fuels expectations that Virat Kohli could take charge once again, despite no formal confirmation from the franchise as of now.
Apart from Virat Kohli, RCB made several key purchases during the auction, including Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who has experience captaining in the IPL, albeit in an interim capacity with Sunrisers Hyderabad. Another potential captaincy candidate is Krunal Pandya, who has led the Baroda team in domestic cricket, but he lacks experience as an IPL captain. However, the leadership debate continues as RCB fans eagerly await an official announcement.
AB De Villiers also expressed satisfaction with the squad assembled for the 2025 season, particularly the pace attack, which now includes seasoned players like Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Josh Hazlewood. He acknowledged that while RCB missed out on players like Kagiso Rabada and Ravichandran Ashwin, they had made strong acquisitions, including Lungi Ngidi, who he believes could become a key player if fit and in form. “We got Bhuvneshwar Kumar, happy with Josh Hazlewood. We did miss out on a couple here and there. Rabada was close, but at least we got Lungi Ngidi,” he said.
Despite his positive outlook, AB De Villiers highlighted a potential weakness in the squad – the lack of a spinner who can turn the ball both ways. He expressed concern that RCB may miss such a player, particularly in home games at Chinnaswamy, and suggested the team could benefit from a mid-season transfer window to acquire an additional spinner if necessary. He also recommended that the BCCI consider introducing such a transfer window in future IPL seasons to allow teams to make adjustments during the tournament. “We need it, and I feel we are lacking it a little bit,” he added.
With the squad now set, all eyes are on RCB’s leadership decision as they prepare for the 2025 IPL season.
