Virat Kohli should leave RCB to win IPL trophy, can join DC: Kevin Pietersen

Kevin Pietersen suggested that Virat Kohli should move out of Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) to win his maiden Indian Premier League (IPL) title after the Faf du Plessis-led side lost to Rajasthan Royals in the Eliminator to crash out of the 17th edition of the tournament.

Kohli was visibly dejected after Rajasthan defeated Bengaluru by four wickets at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Wednesday, May 22, as his wait for an elusive IPL title continued. Former England star Pietersen said Kohli deserves the IPL trophy and should move to a team that can help him end his drought in the cash-rich league.

"I have said it before and I will say it again -- the greats of the game in other sports, have left teams to go and seek glory somewhere else. When he has tried and tried so hard -- won the Orange Cap yet again and done so much yet again and the franchise fails again. I understand for the brand of the team and the commercial value he brings to the team... But Virat Kohli deserves a trophy. He deserves to play in a team that could help him to get that trophy," he said, on Star Sports.

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Pietersen recommended Kohli to shift to Delhi Capitals. While the Rishabh Pant-led franchise hasn't won the IPL as yet, the cricketer-turned-commentator feels that Kohli could find success in the city in which he was born and brought up.

"I actually think it should be Delhi. Delhi is the place where Virat needs to go. Virat can go away, and stay at home most of the time, I know he has a home in Delhi. He has a young family. He can spend more time there. He is a Delhi boy. Why can't he go back? Delhi are as desperate as Bengaluru," he said.

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Pietersen also gave examples of footballers like David Beckham, Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, and Harry Kane, who ended their long associations with their clubs and moved elsewhere.

"I think it's about time Virat thought long and hard. Beckham left, Ronaldo left, Messi left, Harry Kane just left Spurs and went to Bayern Munich," he further added.