Table Of Contents
Virat Kohli took over the captaincy from Daniel Vettori in 2013. Initially, RCB's performance was mixed, but the 2016 season was memorable for the team when they reached the final. However, after that defeat, the team remained stuck in the abyss of continuous failure for the next three years. RCB finished at the bottom of the table in 2017 and 2019. Even though Kohli was consistently scoring runs with the bat during that period, his record as a captain started to look weak.
Moeen said that at that time, there was a lot of talk about Parthiv Patel in the dressing room. He said that there was serious consideration of handing over the captaincy to Parthiv while Gary Kirsten was the coach. The off-spinner also said that Parthiv's cricketing mind was very sharp, and his opinion was given importance within the team. However, he also does not have an answer as to why that change did not happen.
"Yes, I think he was. I'm quite sure he was. In the final year when Gary Kirsten was there-after the first year, I believe-Parthiv was in line to become captain. He had a brilliant cricketing brain. That was the talk at the time. I don't know what happened or why it didn't materialise, but I'm sure he was seriously considered for the role,"Moeen told Sports Tak.
RCB management somehow kept faith in Kohli in the end. His statistics showed that his bat is still the biggest weapon for the team. Perhaps this was the reason why he continued to lead the team till 2020. In 2020, the team made it to the playoffs, and Kohli again came into the limelight. He once again showed that the burden of captaincy and responsibility does not weaken his performance.
In 2021, Virat Kohli decided to step down from captaincy after the IPL. He cited workload, but experts believe that the team's failure and the ever-increasing pressure were the major reasons for his decision. After this, South African batsman Faf du Plessis was given the command of the team. After becoming the captain, Faf took the team forward on a new direction.
Even after Virat's captaincy, Royal Challengers Bengaluru continued to wait for the title. However, in 2025, under the captaincy of Rajat Patidar, the team finally won the trophy. In this historic season, Virat Kohli once again proved himself. He scored 657 runs in 15 matches and strengthened the team's title charge. His performance made it clear that whether he remains the captain or not, his contribution to the team will never be less.
While Kohli continued playing even after leaving the captaincy, Parthiv Patel's IPL career ended after 2019. He distanced himself from the field and later appeared in commentary and other roles. If he had become the captain, perhaps his career could have taken a different turn.
It is clear from Moeen Ali's statement that everything was not well in the RCB dressing room at that time. The confusion about the captain, the differences in opinion between the coach and the players and the pressure of continuous defeats, all this made the atmosphere even more tense. In such a situation, it was not surprising to think that Kohli could be removed.
According to Moeen, there was talk of change while Gary Kirsten was the coach. Kirsten's experience has been excellent, but he could not make RCB successful in IPL. In such a situation, it would not be wrong to say that the management wanted to do something new under his guidance, which could have started with a change in captaincy.
Moeen himself was a part of the team that saw and experienced Kohli closely. His statement is an indication that the situation inside the dressing room can be quite different from what is seen from outside. According to him, Parthiv was seriously considered for captaincy, but the final decision still went in favour of Kohli.
RCB and Virat Kohli's relationship has been special from the beginning. He has been associated with the team since the first season of IPL. Whether it is performance on the field or brand value off the field, Kohli remained the face of the team. Even though the team could not win the trophy, Kohli's dedication never decreased.
With Moeen Ali's statements coming to the fore now, old discussions have become fresh again. The discussion that took place behind closed doors in 2019, fans are now talking openly about it. This also proves that the decisions of teams often depend more on dressing room politics and internal balance than on the performance of the players.
This statement of Moeen Ali is very important. This not only opened the layers of an old controversy, but also revealed how even big names can come under the scanner. If RCB had removed Kohli from captaincy, perhaps his career would have gone in a different direction in the IPL. However, he kept the opportunity, proved himself and finally helped the team become champion. What could be bigger than this for any former captain? Virat Kohli has retired from Test cricket and T20I cricket, but still continues to be an important part of the RCB team. After becoming champions in IPL 2025, fans will wait for him to take the field in IPL 2026 in RCB colours yet again.
More Links