IPL: Virat Kohli to step down as Royal Challengers Bangalore captain at end of 2021 season

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Kohli confirmed earlier this week that he will step down as India’s T20 captaincy after the World Cup in October and November; The 32-year-old took over as captain of the RCB in 2013, leading his team to the 2016 final

Virat Kohli took over as captain of the RCB in 2013 (Credit: AFP)

Virat Kohli has announced that he will step down as captain of the Indian Premier League Royal Challengers Bangalore at the end of the 2021 season.

Earlier this week, Kohli also confirmed that he will step down as India’s T20 captain after this year’s World Cup in the United Arab Emirates.

The 32-year-old will remain the captain of India in the test match and one-day cricket, although he cited his “immense workload” as the reason behind his decision to step down from the reins at RCB.

“This will be my last stage in the IPL as captain of RCB,” revealed Kohli in a video message.

“I spoke to management tonight. It’s something I had on my mind for a while, as I recently announced that I would be leaving the T20 captaincy to handle my workload, which has been immense for the past few years.

“I want to be able to remain committed to the responsibilities that I am fulfilling, and I felt that I needed the space to refresh myself, regroup and be absolutely clear about how I want to move forward.”

Kohli has yet to lead RCB to an IPL title after assuming the captaincy in 2013, although he did guide them to the 2016 final, where they were defeated by Sunrisers Hyderabad.

He has racked up a staggering 6,076 races for Royal Challengers Bangalore throughout his illustrious IPL career, recording five centuries and 40 half centuries with an average of 37.97.

“RCB is going through a transition phase with a big auction next year. I have made it clear to management that I cannot think of being in any other team other than RCB,” Kohli added.

“That has been my commitment from day one. I will continue to be a RCB player until I play my last IPL game.

“It has been a great nine-year journey. Joy, frustration, moments of happiness and sadness, and I just want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for relentlessly and unconditionally supporting and believing in me,” he told RCB fans. .

“I will remain committed to playing for this franchise as I said, until the last day of my IPL game, for what you have done for me and how you have made me feel. That is going to stay with me.” for the rest of my life, thank you very much.

“This is just a small stop. This is not the end of the journey. The journey will continue, and it will continue in the same way that it has for so many years.”

The current IPL season resumed in the United Arab Emirates on Sunday, after it was postponed in May amid a growing number of positive coronavirus cases among players.

RCB is currently third in the table, and they can even the points with Chennai Super Kings and Delhi Capitals at the top with victory over Kolkata Knight Riders on Monday.

Watch the rest of the IPL live on Sky Sports. The competition continues on Monday with Kolkata Knight Riders taking on Royal Challengers Bangalore, which is live from 2.50pm on Sky Sports Cricket.

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