K Srikkanth compares Rajat Patidar’s RCB captaincy with MS Dhoni’s appointment in 2007 as India captain | Ipl News

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) announced their new captain, Rajat Patidar ending the rumours of Virat Kohli returning as skipper of the franchise.
The decision sparked mixed reactions from the cricketing lob, with former Indian cricketer Kris Srikkanth calling it a conscious decision from the former captain.
He also backed the franchise’s decision to hand over the captaincy to Rajat Patidar.
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Speaking on his YouTube channel Cheeky Cheeka, Srikkanth said, “I think it is Virat who said no to the captaincy. He must have wanted to focus on batting,g and RCB did all of this in consultation with Virat Kohli.”
Rajat Patidar will become the fourth Indian to captain the franchise after Rahul Dravid, Anil Kumble, and Virat Kohli.
This is the second captaincy change for the franchise after Kohli stepped down in 2021. South African Faf Du Plessis captained RCB till last season.
Srikkanth compared Patidar’s appointment with India’s move to appoint MS Dhoni as captain ahead of the 2007 T20 World Cup.Story continues below this ad
He believes that lower expectations can result in favorable outcomes for Rajat Patidar.
“He (Rajat) is a good choice. He has been doing well in the IPL, and the good thing is that he will not carry a lot of expectations, like how Dhoni was appointed in 2007 as the Indian captain, not a lot was expected from his team. Rajat will take his calls, and he has Virat Kohli to consult any time,” he said.
With Patidar becoming captain, Team Director Mo Bobat acknowledged Kohli’s role in the squad and how his leadership presence remained evident.
Kohli stepped down after captaining RCB from 2013 to 2021 for nine seasons and without securing an IPL title as captain.Story continues below this ad
This will be Kohli’s first IPL season since his T20I retirement.
Kohli backs Rajat Patidar as captain
After Patidar’s appointment, Virat Kohli sent a special message to the Madhya Pradesh lad via a video posted the franchise on social media handles.
“I am here to inform everyone, like the others will do as well, that Rajat Patidar is going to be the new captain of RCB. Rajat, firstly I want to congratulate you and wish you all the very best. The way you have grown in the franchise and the way you have performed, you have made a place in the hearts of all the fans of RCB, all over India. They get excited to watch you play. So, this is very well deserved. Myself and the other team members will be right behind you and you’ll have all our support,” Kohli said in a video posted RCB.