Former India cricketer Mohammad Kaif has expressed his shock that Virat Kohli wasn’t appointed RCB’s captain for the IPL 2025 season.

The Bengaluru-based franchise on Thursday (February 13) announced Rajat Patidar as their new skipper for the upcoming IPL edition.

Following the release of Faf du Plessis, RCB didn't buy anyone with leadership abilities in the mega auction last November. It was speculated that one between Kohli and Patidar would be given the charge.

Kohli had led RCB from 2013 to 2021. The high point of his captaincy came in 2016, when they finished runners-up to Sunrisers Hyderabad. On the other hand, Patidar, who was one of the three players retained by RCB for IPL 2025, captained Madhya Pradesh in Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and Vijay Hazare Trophy earlier in the season.

As it turned out, RCB handed the captaincy responsibilities to Patidar, under whom Madhya Pradesh reached the final of the SMAT (domestic T20 tournament).

In a video posted on his X account, Kaif said that he was a little surprised by the decision taken by RCB. However, he also claimed that there was no way Kohli would not have played a part in Patidar becoming the captain, considering that the Indian stalwart effectively runs the team.

"I was a little surprised. I thought Virat Kohli would lead RCB, given they did not retain Faf du Plessis. I thought Kohli was effectively running RCB. Even if he is not the captain of the side, it is his job to tell the management to buy certain players and back them. So, if Patidar has become captain, Virat Kohli is behind it. That franchise has not won a single trophy in 18 years, but Kohli is still with them. That's how much RCB respect him; that's how much RCB value Virat's brand," Kaif stated.

"If Kohli did not become the captain and Rajat Patidar did, then certainly he is behind that. Kohli is 37; he must have wanted to focus on his batting and wanted a young player to lead the side, keeping the franchise's future in mind. But it will be difficult for Patidar," he added.

Apart from Kohli and Patidar, RCB has retained Yash Dayal ahead of the mega auction last November. The franchise signed a number of all-rounders in Jacob Bethell, Liam Livingstone, and Krunal Pandya to bolster their middle order, and also fetched some experienced pacers in Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Josh Hazlewood at the grand auction in Jeddah.

RCB full squad for IPL 2025: Virat Kohli, Rajat Patidar, Yash Dayal, Liam Livingstone, Phil Salt, Jitesh Sharma, Josh Hazlewood, Rasikh Dar, Suyash Sharma, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Swapnil Singh, Tim David, Romario Shepherd, Nuwan Thushara, Manoj Bhandage, Jacob Bethell, Devdutt Padikkal, Swastik Chhikara, Lungi Ngidi, Abhinandan Singh, Mohit Rathee