Virat Kohli on Stepping Down as Captain of Royal Challengers Bangalore: “I Had Lost Faith, My Motivation Had Dried Up”
Indian cricket superstar Virat Kohli has revealed the reasoning behind his decision to step down as captain of the Royal Challengers Bangalore after the 2021 season. Kohli admitted that towards the end of his tenure as captain, he had lost his “belief” and felt that his “tank was absolutely empty.” In a motivational speech to the RCB women’s team, Kohli explained that he had become disillusioned after the team had finished at the bottom of the IPL table in 2019 and 2017.
South Africa’s Faf du Plessis has since taken over the reins, and Kohli praised the new additions to the team, saying they had brought new ideas and energy, which helped RCB reach the playoffs for three consecutive seasons. The 34-year-old Delhi-born cricketer also shared that he had faced insecurity in his career, often feeling pressure to perform and maintain his reputation. He credits the young players for reminding him to focus on the game and forget the external pressures.
The decision to step down as RCB captain came after he decided to resign as India’s T20 skipper following the 2021 T20 World Cup. He was subsequently removed as ODI captain and later quit as Test captain. However, Kohli remains an integral part of the Indian cricket team and continues to inspire younger players with his passion for the game.
