‘Virat Kohli is going to lead the side’ – Ravichandran Ashwin chimes in on AB de Villiers’ RCB skipper prediction (Photo Source: BCCI)
Ravichandran Ashwin feels that Virat Kohli will return as the captain of Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the 2025 edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL). Earlier, Kohli’s former RCB teammate, AB de Villiers, had predicted that the legendary batter will take up the leadership role at the popular franchise after a break of three seasons.
Ashwin, who reunited with his former franchise – Chennai Super Kings, said that RCB didn’t get themselves a potential captain during the IPL mega auction in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia last month. The legendary off-spinner stated with a decent level of conviction that Kohli will be spearheading the Bengaluru-based franchise in the 18th season of the cash-rich league next year.
“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,” Ashwin said in a video posted on his official YouTube handle.
RCB had a terrific auction: Ravichandran Ashwin
Virat Kohli was retained by RCB for INR 21 crore ahead of the auction. They also re-signed Rajat Patidar and Yash Dayal ahead of the two-day event in the Middle East. The Royal Challengers were left with the second-highest purse (INR 83 crore) among all the teams at the auction.
However, they didn’t go for the jugular from the outset and carried out their operations with a measured approach. Ravichandran Ashwin praised this auction strategy from RCB as he congratulated the management for their good work.
“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,” Ashwin said.
“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.