Overview
- Patidar confirmed in an interview published Sunday that RCB management consulted Virat Kohli before naming the new captain for IPL 2025 and that Kohli strongly backed his candidacy.
- He said Kohli's support mattered because Kohli was his childhood idol and had observed Patidar's attitude and routines on and off the field, which made the endorsement personally validating.
- RCB had released Faf du Plessis after three seasons and chose Patidar ahead of IPL 2025; under his leadership the team won its first IPL crown in 2025 and successfully defended it in 2026.
- Kohli publicly told teammates that Patidar had 'earned the right' to lead and would have group support, a message Patidar says helped secure dressing-room buy-in for the captaincy.
- The episode highlights how informal player influence and mentorship can shape franchise decisions under heavy fan pressure and long-standing expectations, and it adds to debates about leadership and legacies in T20 cricket.