Will Virat Kohli lead RCB? AB de Villiers drops captaincy hint for IPL 2025

AB de Villiers has hinted that Virat Kohli might return as RCB captain for IPL 2025, amid ongoing speculation about the team's leadership. With Kohli's past success and a well-rounded squad, fans are hopeful for a maiden IPL trophy despite concerns over the lack of a match-winning spinner.

In Short

• AB de Villiers hints Virat Kohli might return as RCB captain for IPL 2025
• Kohli seen as frontrunner due to lack of experienced alternatives
• De Villiers suggests mid-season transfer window to address squad gaps

RCB great AB de Villiers has hinted that former skipper Virat Kohli might return as captain of Royal Challengers Bengaluru for the 2025 edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL). The captaincy of the Bengaluru-based franchise remains undecided, sparking widespread speculation. Kohli, who captained RCB from 2013 to 2021, is seen as the frontrunner to reassume the role. During his tenure, RCB reached the playoffs four times and came closest to winning the title in 2016. His potential return to the leadership helm has rekindled hopes among fans that the team could finally clinch its maiden IPL trophy.

"I don't think it has been confirmed yet, but he will be the captain, I think, looking at the squad," said AB de Villiers on his official YouTube channel, hinting at a possible Kohli comeback. While RCB's new recruits include seasoned players like Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Krunal Pandya, neither has significant IPL captaincy experience, making Kohli the obvious choice.

De Villiers expressed satisfaction with the squad RCB assembled, particularly praising the team's pace arsenal. "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's got a wonderful slower ball, if he is in form and fit, he is a force to be reckoned with," said the former Proteas captain.

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The former RCB batter acknowledged the absence of experienced spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, who was snapped up by Chennai Super Kings, but emphasized that the squad was otherwise well-rounded. "We missed out on Ravichandran Ashwin. CSK got him, but very happy to see him in the yellow jersey again. But all in all, I'm fairly happy. It's a well-balanced squad, we are missing a match-winning spinner but hopefully we are able to balance the squad in such a manner that we make Chinnaswamy a fortress. This squad should work at Chinnaswamy."

Despite his optimism, de Villiers pointed out a critical gap in RCB's setup: the lack of a match-winning spinner capable of turning the ball both ways. "On the road, I feel we might miss out on someone who turns both ways," he noted, underscoring the challenges the team could face, especially during away games.

To address this, de Villiers advocated for the introduction of a mid-season transfer window in the IPL. "I wish the IPL and the BCCI would bring out a transfer window, where halfway through the tournament, we could make transfers. You could possibly get an extra spinner into the squad or go back to the unsold list. It's something to think about," he said.