Virat Kohli has long been the face of the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), staying loyal to the franchise since the start of the IPL in 2008. Over the years, he has delivered countless memorable performances and led the team from 2013 to 2021. But in a surprising and unexpected turn, former RCB player Moeen Ali has revealed that the franchise once considered replacing Kohli as captain.
In a recent interview, Moeen said that during the 2019 season, there were serious talks within the RCB Camp about removing Kohli from the leadership role. This came after a string of poor seasons for the team, especially between 2017 and 2019, when RCB ended at the bottom of the table twice. Despite Kohli’s brilliant individual stats, including a record-breaking 973 runs season in 2016, but team struggles to win as a team.
“Parthiv has a great Cricketing mind,” Moeen Shared on replacement talks.
According to Moeen, it was during Gary Kirsten’s final year as RCB coach that these discussions happened. The team was reportedly considering senior wicketkeeper Parthic Patel to take over as Captain. Parthiv has a great Cricketing mind,” Moeen shared, adding that he was “sure” Parthiv was seriously being considered. However, the switch never made it to the real line, and Kohli continued as captain until he voluntarily stepped down in 2021, citing workload management.
Parthiv Patel, who played his final IPL season in 2019, had a solid career across franchises. He played 139 matches and scored 2848 runs, winning IPL titles with both Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians. Post-retirement, he transitioned into commentary and mentorship, joining the Gujarat Titans as a mentor in IPL 2025.
Virat Kohli and Royal Challengers Bengaluru
As for Kohli, he remained a key part of RCB even after stepping down as captain. In the 2025 season, under new skipper Rajat Patidar, RCB finally broke their title jinx and lifted their maiden IPL trophy. Kohli played a vital role in the RCB 2025 IPL campaign and ended up scoring 657 runs in 15 matches he played.
Moeen’s comments have started a debate among fans about the leadership choice RCB made during those struggling years. While the franchise never officially confirmed such plans back then, this behind-the-scenes insight offers a new perspective on a key moment in RCB’s history.
