Currently, Virat Kohli is playing for RCB in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 and continues to be a vital batsman for the Indian team in Test and ODI formats. He served as the all-format captain of India and RCB for several years before stepping down from these leadership roles.
Virat Kohli led the Indian cricket team for over six years, succeeding the iconic MS Dhoni. He first gave up the T20I captaincy after the ICC T20 World Cup 2021, was then replaced as ODI captain, and eventually resigned from Test captaincy in January 2022. Following his departure, Rohit Sharma was appointed as India’s all-format captain.
In the IPL, Virat Kohli stepped down as RCB’s captain after the 2021 season, with Faf du Plessis taking over from 2022. Kohli captained RCB from 2013 to 2021. In IPL 2025, Rajat Patidar is leading the RCB squad, but Kohli remains an integral part of the team’s leadership group.
Virat Kohli Admits Struggles with Leadership: ‘It Did Get Very Tough on Me’
In a candid conversation on the ‘RCB Bold Diaries’ podcast, Indian cricket icon Virat Kohli opened up about his decision to step down as captain of both the Indian team and Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB). Kohli explained that managing dual leadership roles became increasingly difficult due to soaring expectations and relentless scrutiny.
“At one point, it became overwhelming because so much was happening in my career. I captained India for 7-8 years and led RCB for nine years. Every game brought expectations around my batting,” Kohli shared, highlighting the immense pressure he faced.
Virat Kohli further revealed that the constant spotlight on him, whether as a captain or as a batsman, became exhausting. “There was never a moment when I felt away from the spotlight. If it wasn’t captaincy, it was batting. I was exposed to it 24/7. It eventually became too much, and that’s when I decided to step down. I needed to be happy in my space,” he added.
The former Indian skipper emphasized that stepping down was a way to reclaim personal space and enjoy his game without the weight of expectations. “I needed a place in my life where I could just play cricket without being judged or constantly questioned about my performance and what’s next,” Kohli stated.
Although Kohli’s captaincy saw numerous batting records, he was unable to secure an ICC title for the Indian team or an IPL trophy for RCB. In contrast, his successor, Rohit Sharma, led India to two ICC titles within a year— the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 and the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. Despite stepping down, Kohli played a pivotal role as a batsman in both tournaments, even retiring from T20Is after the World Cup triumph.
Currently focused on IPL 2025, Virat Kohli is leading the run charts with 505 runs in 11 matches, holding the Orange Cap. His consistent performance includes seven half-centuries in just 11 innings, making him the top run-scorer for RCB this season.