“I insisted that we pick a lot of bowling options” - When Virat Kohli was appointed full-time RCB captain in IPL 2013
Virat Kohli got the first taste of captaincy at the highest level when he was named Royal Challengers Bengaluru's (then called Royal Challengers Bangalore) full-time captain ahead of the 2013 Indian Premier League season. The ace batter had attained five years of experience by then and was deemed the natural successor to Daniel Vettori in the leadership role.
Kohli had led the team in the previous editions on select occasions in Vettori's absence. His leadership ability stems from his early triumph as India's U-19 captain when he led the side to the U-19 World Cup in 2008.
After missing out on the playoffs in the 2012 season due to an inferior net run rate compared to the Chennai Super Kings, RCB had a major task to bolster their squad through the auction. A captain naturally plays a huge role in the proceedings, choosing the right candidates by communication with the management.
During the auction ahead of the 2013 auction, RCB acquired seven players, out of which all were either pacers or seam bowling all-rounders. Their most expensive acquisition was left-arm pacer Jaydev Unadkat. They also won the bidding wars for the likes of RP Singh, Moises Henriques, and Ravi Rampaul. The other signings were Pankaj Singh, Daniel Christian, and Christopher Barnwell.
"In Bangalore, if the wicket's nice and fresh, the ball does seam around. Last year we were not to our 100% because of injuries to bowlers - we had to persist with a set of bowlers that did not probably work for us. So, this year, I insisted that we pick a lot of bowling options," Kohli said ahead of RCB's clash against MI in IPL 2013.
"With Indian bowlers, if you don't have the regular guys doing well, then you always have six or seven fresh options who can come into the side and are confident," he added
RCB's attempts at strengthening their pace department have been a perennial issue. The three-time finalists have often struggled to find the right balance, with the issue persisting.
RCB finished fifth in IPL 2013 under Virat Kohli's captaincy
Kohli's reign as RCB skipper began with a two-run win over the Mumbai Indians at home. The team made a terrific start to the season, winning three out of their first four matches, with the one loss against the SunRisers Hyderabad coming through a Super Over.
However, they once again narrowly missed out on making it to the playoffs. Despite claiming 18 points in 16 matches, RCB had to settle for the fifth spot. Their new signings Ravi Rampaul, Jaydev Unadkat, and RP Singh all ended up with 13 wickets apiece.
Kohli remained as RCB skipper till 2021, guiding the side to the final of the 2016 season as well.