Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) had recently appointed Rajat Patidar as their new captain for the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 season. After releasing Faf du Plessis ahead of the mega auction, the franchise did not sign any experienced leaders, leaving the captaincy choice between Rajat Patidar and Virat Kohli. Kohli, who led RCB from 2013 to 2021, seemed like the obvious choice, but the management opted for Patidar. The top-order batter recently played a crucial role in leading Madhya Pradesh to the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy final, where they finished as runners-up to Ajinkya Rahane's Mumbai. Also Read: Sophie Devine returns to cricket after mental health break Speaking ahead of IPL 2025, former RCB star AB de Villiers clarified that Kohli did not reject the captaincy but instead supported the franchise’s decision, which was made with a long-term vision. "Andy Flower must have been thinking about this for a long time along with Mo Bobat. I'm sure they came up with a strategy where they maybe felt like it's time for a fresh look as captain," de Villiers said. He also pointed out that the most important aspect of this decision was Kohli's approval. "They would definitely have had discussions with Virat and obviously he gave them the nod. I don't necessarily think Virat turned it down. But he is in favour of the decision, which was the most important thing," he added. 'Very mature reaction from Virat' AB de Villiers, who represented RCB for 11 seasons, praised Kohli for handling the situation maturely. "It was a very mature reaction from Virat -- because in one of his last seasons, perhaps, maybe he would have liked to be captain. But for him to go, 'you know what guys, I feel this is a bigger and better move for the future of RCB,' I think that’s fantastic," he said. While only time will reveal the impact of this decision, de Villiers believes Kohli will back Patidar fully. "Only time will tell, right? You’ll see how they operate as a team on the park and if Virat really has the back of Rajat Patidar. I’m very sure he will," he said. Earlier, at the RCB Unbox event, Kohli introduced Patidar as the team's long-term leader and assured fans that he was the right choice for the job. "The guy who is going to come next is the guy who will lead you for a long time. So, give him all the love that you can. He is an amazing talent. He has a great head on his shoulders, and he will do a great job for this amazing franchise and take the team forward. He has got everything that it requires," Kohli said. Royal Challengers Bengaluru will begin their IPL 2025 campaign against defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders. RCB will be cashing in on Patidar to lead the team for their first-ever IPL trophy.