Former England cricketer Moeen Ali has shared an inside story that sheds light on the pressure Virat Kohli faced as captain of Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB).
According to Moeen, during the 2019 IPL season, the RCB management seriously considered removing Kohli as captain and replacing him with veteran wicketkeeper Parthiv Patel. Moeen mentioned this occurred during Gary Kirsten’s last season as RCB coach.
Kohli, who captained RCB from 2013 to 2021, often faced criticism for not securing an IPL title during his tenure. Despite a memorable 2016 season when RCB reached the final, the team often struggled in subsequent years, finishing in the lower half of the table. Kohli stepped down after the 2021 season, but RCB finally lifted their first IPL trophy in 2024 under Andy Flower’s coaching, with Rajat Patidar playing a crucial role in the final.
Parthiv Patel Nearly Became RCB Captain
Moeen added that the RCB think tank viewed Parthiv Patel as a strong leadership candidate due to his sharp cricketing mind. He stated, “In the final year when Gary Kirsten was there… Parthiv was in line to become captain. He had a brilliant cricketing brain.”
While the switch never happened, the revelation underscores the intense scrutiny Kohli faced during that phase of his IPL career. After 2019, both Kirsten and eventually Kohli moved on from leadership roles, paving the way for a new era at RCB.
RCB fans will now view the franchise’s journey—and Kohli’s legacy—with a fresh lens, knowing how close they came to a major leadership change.
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