Former Indian cricketer Kris Srikkanth believes Virat Kohli made a conscious decision to focus on his batting for the upcoming IPL season rather than return as Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) captain. Srikkanth supported RCB’s decision to appoint Rajat Patidar as the new captain, suggesting that lower expectations could benefit the 31-year-old. Patidar’s appointment surprised many, with speculation surrounding Kohli’s potential return as captain. Srikkanth speculated that Kohli may have opted out of the leadership role himself. He compared Patidar’s appointment to India appointing MS Dhoni as captain for the inaugural T20 World Cup in 2007, where Dhoni thrived under minimal expectations. Kohli, supportive of the decision, played a key role in the squad even when Faf du Plessis was captain last season. Head coach Andy Flower noted Kohli’s professionalism and full support of Patidar’s appointment. This IPL season will be Kohli’s first since retiring from T20Is last year, following India’s T20 World Cup win in June 2024. Kohli led RCB for nine seasons but stepped down without securing an IPL title, shaping the team’s aggressive and competitive brand of cricket.
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