Overview
- Director of cricket Mo Bobat said Kohli will "forever be the icon and the hero" of RCB, citing nearly 9,000 runs across 18 seasons and rare consistency.
- Bobat said the captaincy decision was weighed deeply and prioritized an Indian leader for stability, leading to Rajat Patidar replacing Faf du Plessis before 2025.
- Management met Kohli in London after 2024 and noted he was willing to lead, but they chose a longer-term succession plan over a short-term return to him as captain.
- Executives credited culture, process and coaching changes for the 2025 breakthrough, highlighting how the squad handled a three-week competition pause.
- As RCB enter IPL 2026 as current champions, Bobat emphasized the team is "attacking" in pursuit of consecutive titles rather than "defending" last year’s crown.