The Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) are yet to accept Virat Kohli’s resignation as a captain officially, the reports stated on Thursday. The batter gave up on the leadership in the second half of IPL 2022, citing to manage workload. Also, he bid farewell to T20I captaincy after the T20 World Cup 2021, since he announced the decision before the marquee event.
Kohli, who has been a vital part of the RCB season from the foremost season, took charge as a skipper in 2013. In nine years of leading, the terrific player failed to lift an IPL trophy and gave up the post without fulfilling his dreams. Although he resigned as a captain of the red army, but it is learned the franchise has not accepted the resignation yet. However, it does not mean that he will be for sure leading the team in IPL 2022 once again.
Notably, Bangalore are looking for a new skipper for the upcoming season. Probably, the newly roped in Faf Du Plessis is in the line to be Kohli’s successor. The player has been bought for INR 7 Crore in the mega auction.
Despite the fact Kohli is no more an RCB skipper, he earlier promised to stay loyal to the side. Kohli stated he will be rendering his services to the team till his last IPL game as the player, if not as a captain. He stated he cannot even think of joining another IPL franchise. It must be noted Kohli was one of the three players retained by the Red team including Glenn Maxwell, and Mohammad Siraj ahead of the mega auction.
“I can’t think of being in any other team than RCB. I’ve spoken to the squad this evening before the second leg of the tournament starts, to inform everyone that this is going to be my last leg in the IPL as captain of RCB,” Kohli had said in a video posted by the franchise. I spoke to the management this evening, something that was on my mind for a while, as I recently announced stepping down from T20 captaincy as well to manage my workload, which has been immense over the last so many years.
“I’ve made it clear to the management that I can’t think of being in any other team than RCB and that has been my commitment from day one,” Kohli said. “I will continue to be an RCB player till I play my last game in the IPL. But it’s been a great journey of nine years of joy, frustration, moments of happiness and sadness, and I just want to thank all of you from the bottom of my heart for supporting me and believing in me relentlessly and unconditionally,” he said.
The Royals will encounter Punjab Kings in their opening encounter of IPL 2022 on March 27th at DY Patil Stadium, Mumbai. They are placed in Group B alongside PBKS, Chennai Super Kings, Gujarat Titans, and Sun Risers Hyderabad. It is pertinent to mention that IPL 2022 is going to be more thrilling including the addition of two new teams. It will be a 10-team event, composed of 70 Round Robin games, three playoffs, and a final. The entire league will be played across Mumbai and Pune venues, whereas, the decision for hosting playoffs and final is yet to be taken.
