After 15 long months, Virat Kohli is back in the captaincy role. In the game against Punjab Kings, Virat Kohli is leading the RCB side for the first time since IPL 2021. Here’s why Virat Kohli captaining RCB against PBKS despite Faf du Plessis being in the Playing XI.
Virat Kohli last captained RCB in IPL 2021 Eliminator against KKR
Virat Kohli made a decision to step down from captaincy at the end of IPL 2021. He declared his decision via a video posted by RCB’s official Twitter handle. He informed everyone in the changeroom before the start of the IPL 2021 that this will be his last leg as a skipper of RCB.
In 2021 he had said “This will be my last IPL as captain of RCB. I’ll continue to be an RCB player till I play my last IPL game. I thank all the RCB fans for believing in me and supporting me. This is just a small halt, not the end of the journey”
Virat Kohli captaining RCB against PBKS despite Faf du Plessis being in the Playing XI
In match number 27 of IPL 2023, RCB is taking on the Punjab Kings at the PCA Stadium. RCB’s full-time skipper Faf Du Plessis is playing this match as an impact substitute.
Faf Du Plessis hurt his ribs area in the game against CSK last time while fielding. He didn’t come on to field even in that game but he did bat in the second innings with some taping on the damaged area.
As the captain was yet not fully recovered from his injury so RCB gave him a rest from fielding and Kohli was asked to take the charge in place of Faf.
Faf will play as an Impact sub at least for a week
It is expected that Faf will be fully fit to do fielding until next week which means Virat will captain RCB for at least 3 matches more.
RCB will use the best possible advantage of the new rule of Impact substitute to the fullest by using the batting of Faf. Although Faf will bat for RCB in every game his captaincy and fielding skills are something that RCB might miss.
Du Plessis is currently the top scorer of IPL 2023 and has been in sublime form this year as usual. He has been the architect of RCB’s consistent performance from the last season.