Aakash Chopra expressed surprise over Rajat Patidar being named RCB’s captain for IPL 2025, as many expected Virat Kohli to continue. RCB announced Patidar as their new skipper on February 13, with Kohli and uncapped Yash Dayal also retained ahead of the auction. In a YouTube video, Chopra noted the list of cricketing legends who had captained RCB before Patidar’s appointment.
“Rajat Patidar has been named the new captain of RCB, which will be an interesting choice to watch unfold. Initially, many expected Virat Kohli to continue, but it turns out he’s not the one. Patidar becomes the eighth player to lead RCB, following a long line of captains like Rahul Dravid, Anil Kumble, Kevin Pietersen, Daniel Vettori, Shane Watson, Faf du Plessis, and Kohli, who led the team for the longest period,” he said (0:01).
“When we evaluate the success of a franchise, we often look at the number of trophies they’ve won. While RCB hasn’t secured a title yet, that doesn’t make them unsuccessful. They’ve still had a solid track record, consistently staying competitive and never finishing near the bottom of the table,” Chopra remarked.
“RCB has taken a daring step by naming Rajat Patidar as their captain, ushering in a new era for the team.” At 31 years old, he’s not exactly a rookie, but he has played fewer than 10 international matches for India. It reminds me of when Rajasthan Royals made Sanju Samson their captain with similar international experience,” Chopra added (3:00).
“We’ve also seen similar situations in the past, like when Nitish Rana was made KKR’s captain or when Shreyas Iyer took over at Delhi Capitals mid-season in 2018. All of these players had less than 10 international appearances at the time, and their first seasons as captains didn’t go as planned,” Chopra reflected.
Chopra emphasized the challenge ahead for Patidar, noting the shadow cast by Kohli’s dominant presence at the franchise. He added that the expectations on the new captain would be high, and Patidar would need to overcome several hurdles to live up to the task and lead RCB effectively.