Star batter and former captain Virat Kohli joined the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) squad on Saturday ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 season. In a video shared by the franchise on social media, Kohli will be seen posing in an RCB jersey with the caption reading, “The King is here and like at all times, he’s 2 steps (sometimes a LOT more) ahead of everyone.” Kohli was in sublime touch during India’s title-winning campaign within the ICC Champions Trophy in Dubai last week. Rohit Sharma-led side defeated Latest Zealand in the ultimate to assert their third tournament title.
The King is here and like at all times, he’s 2 steps (sometimes a LOT more) ahead of everyone.
Virat ko pakadna mushkil hi nahi… you already know the remaining pic.twitter.com/sBxCa3qQco
— Royal Challengers Bengaluru (@RCBTweets) March 15, 2025
The 36-year-old amassed 218 runs from five matches at a median of 54.50. He scored a match-winning unbeaten century against arch-rivals Pakistan before scoring an important 84 against Australia within the semi-final.
For the IPL 2025 season, RCB have appointed Rajat Patidar as their skipper after revamping their squad in last yr’s mega auction.
“Rajat, firstly, I need to congratulate you and need you all of the best possible. The best way you’ve grown within the franchise and the way in which you’ve performed, you’ve really made a spot within the hearts of all of the fans of RCB, throughout India,” Kohli had said on Patidar’s appointment.
“They get excited to look at you play. So, this may be very well deserved. Myself and the opposite team members might be right behind you, and you will have all our support.”
Patidar takes over from Faf du Plessis, who led RCB for the previous couple of seasons but was not retained ahead of the 2025 auction. The 31-year-old batter’s rise in RCB’s ranks has been nothing wanting remarkable.
After his breakthrough performance within the 2022 season – where he smashed a scintillating century within the playoffs – Patidar has evolved right into a key figure for the franchise.
Kohli, who captained RCB for nearly a decade before stepping down in 2021, acknowledged the load of responsibility that comes with the role but expressed confidence in Patidar’s leadership. Although this might be Patidar’s first time leading a team within the IPL, he has already captained Madhya Pradesh through the 2024-25 season in each the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (where they finished as runners-up) and the Vijay Hazare Trophy. These tournaments marked his first full-time leadership role in domestic cricket.
Meanwhile, Kohli has been related to RCB for the reason that inception of IPL in 2008. He has also led the franchise in 140 matches before leaving the leadership role. In 252 matches, the batting stalwart has amassed 8,004 runs, including eight centuries and 55 fifties at a formidable average of 38.67.
The 36-year-old is the leading run-scorer within the IPL, way ahead of Shikhar Dhawan’s tally of 6,769 runs – the second player on the list. Despite having such a decorated IPL profession, Kohli has never won a title within the 17 editions of the tournament thus far. RCB finished as runners-up on three occasions in 2009, 2011 and 2016.
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