IPL 2022: Virat Kohli will not take over as RCB captain again, says Daniel Vettori

Former Royal Challengers Bangalore captain Daniel Vettori has stated that Virat Kohli will not take over as RCB skipper again. Kohli had decided to relinquish his captaincy after the conclusion of the previous season.

The talisman could not lead the franchise to any title despite taking over the captaincy duties back in 2013.

Thus, the pressure was piling on Kohli to deliver a silverware and he decided to quit captaincy. The best result under Kohli’s leadership came when he led the team to the final of the 2016 season but they could not cross the final hurdle against Sunrisers Hyderabad as they lost by eight runs. Kohli was in sublime form in that season as he amassed 973 runs in the season, which is the most for any batter in any IPL edition in the tournament’s history.

Kohli now wants to focus on his batting and he has also given up Indian captaincy from all three formats of the game.

“No (Kohli will not return as captain). I think it is as simple as that. I don’t think that ever works, let alone in franchise cricket or international cricket. Once the captain is moved on, the right thing is for him to move on,” Vettori told ESPNCricinfo.

Vettori feels either Faf du Plessis or Glenn Maxwell could be given the captaincy onus by RCB management. RCB had earlier retained Glenn Maxwell and he could be the favorite to lead the team in the upcoming season. Furthermore, Dinesh Karthik, who has led Kolkata Knight Riders in the past, will also be part of RCB’s leadership group.

“I think they will look at Kohli, Maxwell and Du Plessis as the leadership group and even Dinesh Karthik. I think Faf will step in for Maxwell. But if they win the first three games, maybe they will continue on with him,” he added.

“I think Maxwell is a shorter long term. Three years is a long-term time in the IPL. They will look at Maxwell as the three-year cycle and hopefully he continues to play as he did in the last IPL. They will factor that in that he will be the leader for three years.”

It will be interesting to note which player will the franchise back as a leader for the upcoming season. RCB will begin their IPL 2022 campaign against Punjab Kings at the DY Patil Stadium, Mumbai on March 27.