“Use Virat Kohli’s expertise, however keep true to who you’re” – AB de Villiers’ recommendation for RCB captain Rajat Patidar

South Africa legend AB de Villiers feels Rajat Patidar’s largest problem whereas main Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the course of the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 season shall be coping with insecurity.

RCB launched Faf du Plessis, who led the staff for 3 seasons from IPL 2022 to 2024, forward of the mega public sale. In February earlier this yr, Patidar was appointed the brand new captain of the franchise.

De Villiers, who was a part of the RCB camp for 11 IPL seasons, feels Patidar should push away fixed doubts about himself. 

Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s Virat Kohli presents a protect to skipper Rajat Patidar in the course of the RCB Unbox occasion at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on Monday.
| Picture Credit score:
SHAILENDRA BHOJAK/PTI

“Patidar’s largest problem shall be insecurity, moving into the massive boots of captains like Faf and Virat (Kohli). Having Virat round and continuously nearly doubting your self – ‘Am I doing the precise factor? What would Virat do?’ In order that I feel shall be his largest impediment,” de Villiers stated throughout a digital press room session with JioStar. 

The 41-year-old suggested Patidar to not strive to captain like Kohli or du Plessis and hold reminding himself that there have to be a superb cause for the franchise to select him because the captain. “Use the expertise of Virat, use the expertise of Andy Flower, however at all times keep true to who you’re,” he added. 

Pointless criticism of Kohli’s batting

Kohli has a strike price of 131.97 over the 17 IPL seasons, which, on a number of cases, has invited criticism from specialists. Nevertheless, De Villiers believes that Kohli has confronted pointless criticism relating to his batting regardless of enjoying exceptionally properly in recent times. Nevertheless, he means that the star Indian batter might have been considerably affected by the exterior noise.

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“Virat, being an excellent staff man and solely a human being in spite of everything, undoubtedly has these doubts in his head. However the one factor about Virat is he’s at all times had the flexibility to, when it issues most, cross that line for his staff, block every little thing out, and it’s enterprise time (sic). He might need known as his time in T20Is, however there’s loads left for Virat, and with the batting lineup this season, I don’t suppose Virat goes to really feel a number of strain,’ he stated.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s Virat Kohli throughout a follow session forward of IPL 2025.
| Picture Credit score:
PTI Picture/Shailendra Bhojak

Kohli performed an important position in India’s profitable run within the 2025 Champions Trophy, scoring an unbeaten 100 in opposition to Pakistan and an necessary 84 within the semifinals in opposition to Australia. De Villiers believes that Kohli is presently having fun with his batting and sees no want for him to extend his strike price, particularly when opening the batting alongside Phil Salt.

“Phil Salt is likely one of the finest attacking gamers within the IPL. I feel it’s going to take a number of strain off Virat. All he must do is to maintain doing what he’s been doing for therefore a few years – management the sport. He’s obtained one of the best instincts: when to take extra dangers, when to take much less threat.

“He must captain this batting division, hold issues collectively, and play sensible cricket – he’s obtained a number of explosive energy round him.”