“In all likelihood” – CSK star predicts RCB captain for IPL 2025
Ravichandran Ashwin, who reunited with the Chennai Super Kings (CSK), has predicted Virat Kohli as the new skipper of the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) for IPL 2025. The legendary off-spinner said he reckoned that the Bengaluru-based franchise did not bid for a captain at the IPL 2025 auction.
Notably, RCB didn’t use the Right to Match (RTM) for erstwhile skipper Faf du Plessis, who was sold to Delhi Capitals for his base price of INR 2 crore.
Ashwin said on his YouTube channel (via Hindustan Times):
“In all likelihood, I think Virat Kohli is going to captain that side. That's the feeling I get because they haven't gone for a captain. Unless and until they are going to go with somebody else. I don't see anyone other than Virat as captain.”
Virat Kohli had resigned as RCB’s full-time skipper in 2021. The 36-year-old led them to 66 wins in 143 matches, including the 2016 final.
Earlier, Proteas legend AB de Villiers reckoned that Kohli will lead RCB in IPL 2025. He said (via The Times of India):
"I don't think it has been confirmed yet, but he [Kohli] will be the captain, I think, looking at the squad.”
“They had a terrific auction” – Ravichandran Ashwin on RCB
Ravichandran Ashwin further lauded RCB for their auction picks despite ignoring Mohammed Siraj, Glenn Maxwell and Faf du Plessis. He said in the same video:
“I actually personally think they had a terrific auction. They balanced it and waited it out. Many teams came into this auction with many crores in their purses. They came blazing right in the front but RCB played the waiting game even though they had a lot of money. Who do I need? They are the ones I need. My overall team is important. My 12 or 14 is important.”
“What will work in our conditions? I want that sort of a side. I need that team. Even though I have RTMs, I am not going to use them. I will end up picking who I want. I will follow the strategy till the end,” he added.
RCB's squad for IPL 2025: Virat Kohli, Rajat Patidar, 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.