Untold Stories: Was Virat Kohli About to Be Sacked for Parthiv Patel as RCB Captain?

However, just days after the historic win, a shocking revelation surfaced. An ex-RCB player claimed that Virat Kohli was almost sacked as captain before the 2019 IPL season. This news has left fans surprised, especially after seeing Kohli’s loyalty and passion for the franchise over the years. Let’s take a closer look at the full story behind this unexpected twist.

Moeen Ali Reveals Shocking Story Behind Virat Kohli’s Sacking Rumours

In IPL 2025, the Royal Challengers Bangalore lifting their maiden IPL title, and Virat Kohli finally holding the trophy after an 18-year wait, was an iconic moment. It was a historic moment not just for the team, but also for fans who had supported them through years of heartbreak. For every Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) fan, the 2025 IPL season was nothing short of a fairy tale. After 18 long years of cheering, crying, and hoping, the sight of Virat Kohli, RCB’s heart and soul, lifting that shiny IPL trophy was pure magic.

The victory wasn’t just a win for the team, as it was a celebration for millions of fans who would stick by RCB through every gut-wrenching loss and near-miss. Kohli, who’s been with the franchise since the IPL kicked off in 2008, was the poster boy of this triumph, his passion and grit finally paying off. But just when fans were still soaking in the joy of that historic moment, a jaw-dropping story broke that had everyone talking. Former RCB all-rounder Moeen Ali dropped a bombshell in an interview, revealing that back in 2019, the team’s management nearly sacked Kohli as captain, a move that could’ve changed everything.

Being an ex-RCB player, Moeen Ali spilled the beans about how the franchise was seriously considering pulling the plug on Kohli’s captaincy because the team wasn’t delivering the results they wanted. Kohli took over as captain in 2013, and while he was smashing runs left, right, and center, the IPL trophy kept slipping away. From 2013 to 2021, he led RCB in 143 matches, winning 66 and losing 70, with seven games ending in no result. His win percentage sat at 46.15%, which, let’s be honest, wasn’t terrible but didn’t scream “champion” for a team loaded with superstars like AB de Villiers, Chris Gayle, and later, Glenn Maxwell.

Fans and management alike were getting restless, and the pressure was on Kohli to deliver that elusive title. According to Moeen, things came to a head in 2019, when Gary Kirsten was part of the coaching setup. The franchise was thinking about handing the captaincy to Parthiv Patel, a guy known for his sharp cricketing brain. Moeen didn’t hold back, saying:

Yes, I think he was. I’m quite sure he was. In the final year, when Gary Kirsten was there-after the first year, I believe Parthiv was in line to become captain. He had a brilliant cricketing brain. That was the talk at the time. I don’t know what happened or why it didn’t materialise, but I’m sure he was seriously considered for the role.

This was huge news. The idea that RCB, a team practically built around Kohli, was ready to strip him of the captaincy was shocking. Parthiv, a pint-sized dynamo with a knack for reading the game, was seen as a real contender to take over. Moeen didn’t dive into why the plan fell through, but he made it clear that Parthiv’s smarts on the field had seriously impressed the management.

For whatever reason, maybe Kohli’s larger-than-life presence or his undeniable commitment to the team, the change never happened. Kohli stayed on as captain until 2021, when he decided to step down himself, saying he needed to manage his workload. This came around the same time he was stepping back from leading India in other formats, so it made sense. But Moeen’s revelation showed just how close RCB came to making a massive call that could’ve rewritten Kohli’s story with the franchise.

Virat Kohli’s Record for RCB

Virat Kohli’s time as RCB captain was a wild ride. As a batter, he was untouchable, piling up runs like it was his day job. But as a captain, things weren’t always smooth sailing. The 2016 season was the closest RCB got to glory under him, reaching the final thanks to Kohli’s unreal 973-run performance. That year, he was a man possessed, but Sunrisers Hyderabad crushed RCB’s dreams in the final. After that, it was a string of ups and downs as some seasons were decent, others downright dismal.

By 2019, when RCB finished rock bottom, the whispers about Kohli’s leadership got louder. The team had all the firepower, big names, big hitters, but couldn’t quite click as a unit. That’s when the management started looking at options like Parthiv, whose cool-headed approach and game sense made him a dark horse for the captaincy. Despite the rough patches, you can’t question Kohli’s heart. He poured everything into RCB, leading by example with his bat and his intensity.

The fact that he stayed captain after those 2019 talks says a lot about his importance to the franchise. When he finally stepped down in 2021, it was on his terms, and Faf du Plessis took over in 2022. Fast forward to 2025, and Faf, with Kohli still anchoring the batting, led RCB to that long-awaited title. It was proof that Kohli’s legacy with RCB was about more than just captaincy, as it was about being the team’s rock through thick and thin.

Starting his IPL career with Royal Challengers Bengaluru in 2008, Virat Kohli has become one of the most iconic players in the history of the tournament. Over the years, he has transformed from a promising youngster into one of the best batters in T20 cricket, leading RCB with the bat for nearly two decades.

In his first season, Kohli was still finding his feet, scoring just 165 runs in 13 matches at a modest average of 15.00. But he didn’t stay quiet for long. By 2010, he was racking up over 300 runs, and in 2011, he exploded with 557 runs at an average of 46.41, showing the world he was here to stay. The 2016 season was pure Kohli magic, 973 runs in 16 matches, with four centuries and seven half-centuries, at an insane average of 81.08 and a strike rate of 152.03. That’s still the most runs anyone’s ever scored in a single IPL season.

Kohli’s been a run machine, crossing 400 runs in 10 different seasons. Even in a tough 2022, where he managed 341 runs at 22.73, he came roaring back with 639, 741, and 657 runs in 2023, 2024, and 2025, all at averages above 50. The guy just doesn’t slow down. With 8 centuries, 63 half-centuries, 771 fours, and 291 sixes, he’s shown he can play any role, like anchor, aggressor, or any other role.

Kohli’s captaincy stats tell the story of a leader who faced tough times. His batting was always on point, but the team’s results didn’t always follow, which is why those 2019 talks about replacing him happened. When RCB finally won the IPL in 2025, it felt like the universe had righted a wrong. Kohli’s 657 runs at a 54.75 average were massive, but more than that, it was his 18 years of loyalty that made the moment special. Moeen’s story about the 2019 captaincy drama only added to the legend that Kohli faced the heat, kept going, and came out on top.