The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 season approached with many expecting Virat Kohli to return as Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) captain after the franchise parted ways with Faf du Plessis. However, discussions also surfaced about Rajat Patidar as a potential contender. Still, it was a surprise when RCB announced Patidar as their leader for the 18th edition of the tournament.
Virat Kohli, the team's star player, has wholeheartedly backed the new captain. Speaking at the RCB Unbox Event on Monday (March 17), he lauded Rajat Patidar as an "amazing talent" with a "calm and composed attitude." Kohli also urged the packed M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru to stand behind their new leader and support him.??
Virat Kohli while introducing Rajat Patidar to the stage said, "The guy who is going to come next is someone who will lead you for a long time. So give him all the love you can. He is an amazing talent. He is a great player¡ªwe all know that¡ªbut he also has a great head on his shoulders. He will do a fantastic job for this amazing franchise and take the team forward. He has everything that¡¯s required".
Soon after, many fans took to X (formerly Twitter) to praise the senior player for showing immense support for the new captain. However, many also recalled how Hardik Pandya¡ªthe clutch player for Team India¡ªwas poorly treated by Mumbai Indians (MI) fans after he was brought in from Gujarat Titans (GT) and made MI captain. The all-rounder was booed and subjected to abuse after replacing Rohit Sharma as the MI skipper.
One fan wrote, "This is exactly how a senior player should hype up and support the new captain¡ªnot by running hate campaigns and dividing the team into groups. Sadly, there is only one Virat Kohli."
Another said, "Happy to see Kohli wholeheartedly supporting Rajat Patidar. Hope RaPa brings it home. And this is what poor Hardik Pandya missed when he took the MI captaincy."
One commented, "Supported Hardik when he became a victim of PR. Now celebrating and supporting his deputy, Rajat Patidar, who will captain RCB. And then people ask why Kohli has such a massive fan following worldwide."?
Another posted, "Kohli is supporting Rajat Patidar...Rahul is supporting Axar Patel...Meanwhile, the Mumbai crowd booed Hardik throughout IPL 2024, and Rohit didn¡¯t utter a single word in his support."?
Last season, the RCB women's team got the fans delight by lifting the Women's Premier League (WPL) crown in only their second attempt ¨C a feat the men's side has failed to replicate.?
Now, all eyes will be on the men's team if they can get their hands on the trophy they have been waiting for so eagerly for over 18 seasons.
RCB IPL 2025 squad: Rajat Patidar (C), Virat Kohli, Yash Dayal, Josh Hazlewood, Phil Salt, Jitesh Sharma, Liam Livingstone, Rasikh Dar, Suyash Sharma, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Swapnil Singh, Tim David, Romario Shepherd, Nuwan Thushara, Manoj Bhandage, Jacob Bethel, Devdutt Padikkal, Swastik Chhikara, Lungi Ngidi, Abhinandan Singh, Mohit Rathee??
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