Why Virat Kohli Isn’t Captaining RCB vs PBKS Despite Patidar’s Absence

The Captaincy Conundrum: Jitesh Sharma Leads RCB in Dharamshala

In a significant development for the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), the franchise faced a leadership hurdle ahead of their crucial encounter against Punjab Kings in Dharamshala on May 17. The team’s regular captain, Rajat Patidar, was ruled out of the clash due to an injury and did not travel with the squad. This sudden vacancy at the helm immediately sparked intense speculation among the cricketing fraternity and the RCB faithful regarding who would step up to lead the side.

Naturally, all eyes turned toward the iconic Virat Kohli. As the franchise’s most successful leader and a former long-term captain, Kohli seemed the most logical choice to take over the reins in a pressure-cooker environment like Dharamshala. However, in a move that caught many off guard, it was Jitesh Sharma who walked out for the toss, confirming a shift in the team’s tactical leadership hierarchy for IPL 2026.

The Strategic Reasoning: Why Not Virat Kohli?

The decision to appoint Jitesh Sharma as the stand-in captain over Virat Kohli was not a spur-of-the-moment choice. In fact, it aligns perfectly with a strategy the RCB management had clarified well before the IPL 2025 mega-auction and the subsequent 2026 season. Since the transition period began following the 2024 retentions, the debate over the captaincy has been a focal point for the management.

While Kohli’s pedigree as a leader is beyond question, the franchise has been vocal about its desire to look toward the future. The management, spearheaded by Director of Cricket Mo Bobat and Head Coach Andy Flower, has consistently emphasized the need for a long-term Indian captaincy option. By choosing Jitesh Sharma to fill in for Patidar, RCB is signaling its commitment to testing and empowering new leadership voices within the locker room.

Leadership Without a Title: The Mo Bobat Philosophy

To understand why Kohli is no longer the go-to choice for the official captaincy tag, one must look back at statements made by the RCB hierarchy. Mo Bobat previously addressed the “Kohli for Captain” sentiment that often dominates social media and fan discussions. Bobat explained that Kohli’s influence on the field remains paramount, regardless of whether he is the one carrying the team sheet to the middle.

“Of course, Virat was an option. You know, that goes without saying, and I know that the fans would have probably leant towards Virat in the first instance, but we have seen a lot of love for Rajat too,” Bobat stated in a previous RCB video. He further elaborated on Kohli’s unique role, saying, “My point on Virat would be that Virat does not need a captaincy title to lead. Leadership is one of his strongest instincts. It comes naturally to him regardless.”

Jitesh Sharma Virat Kohli for RCB. Image Credits: AFP

Kohli’s Ongoing Role as the On-Field General

Virat Kohli officially stepped down as the full-time captain of RCB after the 2021 IPL season. Since then, he has played under the leadership of Faf du Plessis and more recently, Rajat Patidar. Despite the change in titles, Kohli’s involvement in the game has not diminished. He remains a fixture in tactical huddles, frequently offering advice to bowlers and setting fields alongside the designated captain.

This “senior statesman” role allows Kohli to focus on his batting—which remains the backbone of the RCB lineup—while providing the current captain with a massive safety net. The management believes that adding the official responsibility back onto Kohli’s shoulders might be a step backward in their goal of building a self-sustaining leadership group for the next decade.

A Look Back: The Last Time Kohli Led the Challengers

While Kohli is no longer the permanent captain, he has not been entirely absent from the role in recent years. During the 2023 season, he stepped in as a stand-in skipper for three matches when Faf du Plessis was managing an injury that limited him to an Impact Player role. Kohli’s brief return to captaincy was successful, as he led the team to two victories in those three games.

His last official match as the RCB captain took place against the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium during the 2023 edition. Although a similar opportunity presented itself in 2025 and again in 2026 with Patidar’s absence, the management has remained firm in their decision to move forward with Jitesh Sharma as the primary backup for leadership duties.

The Road Ahead for RCB in IPL 2026

As the PBKS vs RCB clash unfolds, the focus remains on how Jitesh Sharma handles the pressure of leading a star-studded side in a high-stakes environment. With the guidance of Kohli from mid-off and the strategic backing of the coaching staff, RCB is testing the depth of its leadership roster. For the fans, while the sight of Kohli at the toss remains a nostalgic desire, the reality is a franchise firmly focused on a new era—one where Kohli leads by example, but Jitesh Sharma carries the mantle of responsibility.