Virat Kohli Nearly Lost RCB Captaincy in 2019

Virat Kohli’s bond with Royal Challengers Bengaluru has become one of the defining stories of the Indian Premier League. But a new revelation has added a sharp twist to that long partnership: in 2019, Kohli was reportedly close to losing the RCB captaincy.

The disclosure has brought back an intriguing chapter from RCB’s often turbulent leadership history. While Kohli remained the face of the franchise for years, former India and RCB wicketkeeper-batter Parthiv Patel has now said he was in the running to take over the role after being told to prepare for the possibility.

The captaincy plan that never happened

Parthiv Patel shared the detail during a conversation on Aakash Chopra’s YouTube channel, explaining that the conversation around leadership had already begun behind the scenes. According to him, the message from the management was clear enough to signal a major shift was being considered.

“I have never talked about this, but Moeen Ali mentioned it in an interview. The fact is that I was told, ‘Be ready, we are thinking about this for next year,’” Parthiv said. It was a striking admission, especially considering how central Kohli had been to the RCB project.

That change, however, never materialized. Parthiv said the two people who had encouraged the idea, Ashish Nehra and Gary Kirsten, were later replaced, and the new coaching setup changed the direction entirely. “The next year, the two people who offered it to me were replaced, new coaches came in, and I didn’t get to play a single match that entire season,” he added.

Moeen Ali had hinted at the same possibility

Parthiv’s comments also align with what former England all-rounder Moeen Ali had earlier suggested in an interview. Moeen said RCB had seriously discussed the possibility of removing Kohli from the captaincy, and that Parthiv was among the names being considered for the job.

“Yes, I think he was. I’m quite sure he was,” Moeen said, referring to Parthiv as a potential leader. He also noted that Parthiv had “a brilliant cricketing brain,” underlining why he was viewed as a serious candidate.

Moeen added that the discussion was active at the time, even if the final decision never came through. “That was the talk at the time. I don’t know what happened or why it didn’t materialise, but I’m sure he was seriously considered for the role,” he said.

Kohli’s long run as RCB captain

Despite the internal talk, Kohli remained in charge for the 2019 IPL season and continued as captain for two more seasons. His leadership stint stretched from 2013 to 2021, making him one of the longest-serving captains in the league’s modern era.

The eventual decision to step down came after the 2021 season, when Kohli handed over the leadership role. Even then, his relationship with the franchise did not weaken. He stayed at the center of the RCB identity and continued to be the player most associated with the team’s rise, pressure, and passionate fan base.

From captaincy debate to title glory

The most dramatic part of this larger story is what followed years later. Kohli finally won his first IPL title in 2025 with RCB, ending a long wait that had become one of the league’s biggest talking points. Then in 2026, RCB defended the trophy successfully, becoming only the third franchise after Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians to win back-to-back IPL titles.

That achievement gives the old captaincy debate a different perspective. What once looked like a possible turning point away from Kohli became part of a much bigger journey that ended with trophies and history.

For RCB, the revelation is a reminder of how close the franchise came to taking a very different path. For Kohli, it is another chapter in a career filled with pressure, scrutiny, loyalty, and eventually, long-awaited success.

The quote from Parthiv Patel makes the situation even more fascinating because it shows how near the decision reportedly was. “Be ready” was the message then, but the final call never arrived. In hindsight, that moment could have changed the direction of RCB’s story entirely.

And yet, the franchise stayed with Kohli, rode out the doubts, and eventually lifted the title twice. Few IPL storylines carry that kind of emotional weight, and even fewer end with such a dramatic reversal of fortune.