Like MS Dhoni....: Ex-India Star's Big Statement On RCB New Captain Rajat Patidar's Appointment

With Indian Premier League (IPL 2025) round the corner, former Indian cricketer Kris Srikkanth has reacted to Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB)'s decision to name young gun Raj Patidar as their new skipper. He also shared his thoughts on Virat Kohli's decision to not reclaim RCB captaincy.

On his YouTube channel Cheeky Cheeka, Srikkanth hinted that Kohli might have declined the role himself. "I think Virat would have said no to the captaincy. He would have said 'I want to focus on batting'. I think all this must have happened in consultation with Virat Kohli," he stated.

Earlier, it was speculated that Virat Kohli might lead the Bangalore team, RCB management decided to give reigns to 31-year-old Patidar.

Kohli's Influence and Support

During RCB's official announcement in Bengaluru, Team Director Mo Bobat highlighted Kohli's significant influence within the team. Bobat noted that Kohli's leadership presence was evident even when Faf du Plessis led last season. Despite stepping down from captaincy without winning an IPL title, Kohli helped shape RCB's aggressive cricket style over nine seasons from 2013 to 2021.

Head coach Andy Flower also commented on the change, praising Kohli for his professionalism and support for Patidar's appointment. This IPL season will be Kohli's first since retiring from T20 internationals last year after India's T20 World Cup victory in June 2024.

Comparisons and Expectations

Srikkanth drew a parallel between Patidar and MS Dhoni, recalling India's decision to appoint Dhoni as captain for the inaugural T20 World Cup in 2007. At that time, Dhoni was a relatively unknown leader who thrived under minimal expectations. "Rajat Patidar is a good choice. He has been doing well in the IPL. The good thing is he will not have a lot of expectations," Srikkanth remarked.

Srikkanth further elaborated on how Patidar could benefit from having fewer expectations placed upon him as a leader. "When we appointed Dhoni in 2007 as the T20 World Cup captain, not a lot was expected of him and the team. It's a bit like that... Expectations from Rajat Patidar as a captain are not high," he added.

The former cricketer also mentioned that Patidar would likely consult with Kohli, who remains an influential figure within RCB despite not holding the captaincy title. "He will take his own calls. He will consult Virat Kohli, who will be a guiding force," Srikkanth concluded.