RCB chairman's stunning reply when asked about Virat Kohli being replaced as captain

5th, 7th, 3rd, runner-up, 8th,6th, 8th- These are Royal Challengers Bangalore’s (RCB) standings under the captaincy of Virat Kohli in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Taking seven seasons that Virat Kohli has led RCB from the front. The team has qualified only two times for the play-offs with one game being the finals in 2016.

Not that the Bangalore based franchise were a highly successful team before Virat Kohli took over as captain in 2013 but they had reached the finals two times in five seasons. Clearly, RCB’s lack of consistency under Kohli has always remained one of the most talked about topics in T20 league. The RCB owners however, have always stood firmly behind the Indian captain.

There was no difference before the IPL 2020 set to kick-off in the UAE. RCB chairman Sanjeev Churiwala, came up with a stunning reply when he was asked whether the franchise is thinking about replacing Kohli as captain.

“Virat is the Indian captain,” Churiwala said. “And has the highest fan-followers. We all love Virat and love to be associated with Virat.”

RCB’s run machine Virat Kohli has led them in 110 matches, out of which RCB have won only 49 and lost 55. Kohli’s low win percentage in the IPL is marked contrast with his performance as the India skipper.

“Look, this is what (the) game is: sometimes you lose, sometimes you win, but let’s not forget what that individual is and what kind of track record he has,” Churiwala said. “As RCB, as an RCB owner, we are very, very proud that Virat is associated with us.”

Following a disappointing past three seasons where RCB finished last two times, Virat Kohli would be hoping for a change of fortunes when the IPL kicks off in the UAE on 19th September.

Talking about RCB’s 21-member squad, Churiwala said it is a well balanced side.

“Without getting into specific names, on the matter of what was in our minds - very clearly, we were buying out to ensure that we can create a core XI. Each and every player has a meaningful role to play, whether they’re in the XI or not in the XI.

“Number two, we also wanted to ensure that we have a proper balance between the batting side and the bowling side. We wanted to ensure that there’s strength on both sides. We had identified internally a couple of weaknesses we wanted to work upon, without getting to the specifics, some of the players we’ve chosen this time is to ensure that we stick to that. One of them was that the core players are national players, that’s what we’ve stuck to also this time,” he said.

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