Reports: Virat Kohli can be sacked as RCB captain midway through IPL 2021
As per the latest development, Virat Kohli could be removed as Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) captain midway through the UAE leg of Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021. The veteran batter, ahead of the season resumption, announced he’ll step down as RCB captain after this tournament. It was indeed a major call as Kohli has been Bangalore’s full-time captain since the 2013 season.
Although the veteran cricketer performed brilliantly with the bat in this tenure, he failed to take the side to glory even once. This means the ongoing competition is Kohli’s last opportunity to lift the IPL trophy as RCB skipper. While the Bangalore-based side was on a roll in the first half, they couldn’t make a sensational start to the UAE leg. Facing Kolkata Knight Riders in their first assignment, RCB suffered a humiliating nine-wicket defeat.
Electing to bat first at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi, the Virat Kohli-led side put up a horrendous batting show and got bundled out for just 92. Skipper Kohli couldn’t do much either, scoring five off just four balls before falling prey to pacer Prasidh Krishna. Chasing the mediocre total, KKR didn’t break and sweat and crossed the line in just 10 overs.
There are chances Virat Kohli could be removed mid-way through the season: Former cricketer
Needless to mention, RCB’s below-par show received heavy backlash from different parts. Kohli also came under the scanner for failing with the bat. While many fans and experts criticized the 32-year-old, one former cricketer, on conditions of anonymity, said Kohli might be sacked as RCB captain even before the conclusion of the competition.
“Look at the way he was playing against Kolkata Knight Riders. Just clueless! It seems he is struggling big time right now. There are chances that he could be removed mid-way through the season. It has happened earlier also with other teams — like with Dinesh Karthik in KKR and David Warner in Sunrisers Hyderabad, among others,” the former cricketer was quoted as saying by News 18.
“They were either removed or they stepped down mid-way. So it can happen in RCB as well… I have this feeling after watching yesterday’s match. One more bad game and you can see a change in RCB captaincy right away,” he added.
