New Delhi: Virat Kohli, the star batter of Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), has shown immense support for the newly appointed franchise captain Rajat Patidar as he prepares for his debut season as RCB's skipper in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025. Speaking at the RCB Unbox event at the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on Monday, Kohli praised Patidar and expressed his belief in his leadership qualities.

Kohli’s Confidence in Patidar

The former RCB captain stated that he believes Rajat Patidar has everything it takes to succeed as the leader of the team. Kohli, who stepped down from captaincy a few years ago and was succeeded by Faf du Plessis, expressed his trust in Patidar’s abilities, saying that the young batter will lead the franchise for a long time.

“The guy who is going to come next is the guy who’s going to lead you for a long time. So, give him all the love you can. He’s an amazing talent; he’s a great player; we have all seen that. He has got a great head on his shoulders, and he will do a great job for this amazing franchise and take the team forward. He has got everything that’s required,” Kohli said at the RCB Unbox event.

Leadership Change and RCB’s Future

Kohli, who is a key player in the team, also shared his hopes that the change in leadership would prove to be a positive step for RCB and help them achieve success in IPL 2025. The franchise’s decision to appoint Patidar as the captain comes after Faf du Plessis’s departure, as he led the team for the past three seasons after Kohli stepped down from the captaincy.

RCB remains one of the three original IPL teams (along with Delhi Capitals and Punjab Kings) that have been part of the tournament since its inaugural edition in 2008 but has yet to secure its first IPL title. Kohli’s belief in Patidar could be the fresh start the franchise needs to finally clinch the trophy.

Kohli’s Role in IPL 2025

Kohli, who has been a part of RCB since the very beginning of the IPL, remains one of the most crucial players for the team. Heading into IPL 2025, he is likely to continue being a key asset. Kohli is the leading run-scorer in IPL history with over 8,000 runs to his name, and his stellar performances in recent seasons have been a major driving force for the team.

Ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction, Kohli was retained for a substantial sum of Rs 21 crore, making him one of the highest-paid players in the league.

Kohli’s Opening Role in IPL 2025

In the past few seasons, Kohli has successfully opened the batting for RCB. In IPL 2024, he had a remarkable season, scoring 741 runs in 15 matches, with an average of 61 and a strike rate of over 154, finishing as the top run-scorer of the tournament. His partnership with Faf du Plessis at the top of the order was one of the most prolific opening pairs in IPL history.

Looking ahead to IPL 2025, Kohli is expected to continue in his role as an opener. He could potentially open alongside Phil Salt, the big-hitting England batter, or Devdutt Padikkal, who could also be used as an opener due to the lack of left-handers in RCB’s batting lineup.

RCB’s Strategy for IPL 2025

With Patidar at the helm, and Kohli continuing to lead the batting lineup, RCB will look to use their new leadership dynamics and revamped squad to push for the IPL 2025 title. The support from Kohli, along with his own consistent performances, is expected to provide the much-needed foundation for RCB’s challenge for the crown in the upcoming season.

As RCB fans eagerly await the start of IPL 2025, there’s renewed hope and excitement for the team under Rajat Patidar’s leadership and with Virat Kohli continuing to spearhead the team’s batting charge.