Reports: RCB yet to officially accept Virat Kohli's resignation as captain

The Royal Challengers Bangalore have reportedly not accepted Virat Kohli’s resignation as captain as yet. Kohli, 33, had announced his decision to step down as the skipper of the franchise during the second leg of 2021 season, having led the team since 2013 and having been a part of the franchise ever since the league’s inception in 2008.

While the spot after Kohli’s relinquishing has been left vacant, the RCB management, it seems, has not yet officially approved his resignation. That, however, does not mean Kohli will be seen as the captain again. The RCB are set to name their captain on March 12. Meanwhile, Kohli was one of the three players alongside Australian all-rounder Glenn Maxwell and pacer Mohammed Siraj who were retained by the franchise ahead of the IPL 2022 mega auction that concluded last month.

Kohli’s retention was a given in the light of his long-term association with the franchise, as he has unquestionably been the face of the franchise over all the years in the IPL despite not being able to take the team to a title. Meanwhile, Kohli had, in no uncertain terms, clarified his intentions to continue with the team despite giving up the leadership responsibility, stating that “I can’t think of being in any other team than RCB.”

“I’ve spoken to the squad this evening before the second leg of the tournament starts, to inform everyone that this is going to be my last leg in the IPL as captain of RCB,” Kohli had said in a video posted by the franchise. “I spoke to the management this evening, something that was on my mind for a while, as I recently announced stepping down from T20 captaincy as well to manage my workload, which has been immense over the last so many years.

“I’ve made it clear to the management that I can’t think of being in any other team than RCB and that has been my commitment from day one,” Kohli said. “I will continue to be an RCB player till I play my last game in the IPL. But it’s been a great journey of nine years of joy, frustration, moments of happiness and sadness, and I just want to thank all of you from the bottom of my heart for supporting me and believing in me relentlessly and unconditionally,” he said.

It is widely speculated that South Africa batter Faf du Plessis is likely to take over the captaincy job after being roped in by the franchise for INR 7 crore at the mega auction. RCB, who are placed in Group B alongside Chennai Super Kings, Sunrisers Hyderabad, Punjab Kings and Gujarat Titans, start their 2022 campaign against Punjab on March 27 at DY Patil Stadium, Mumbai.