The unluckiest team in Indian Premier League history is Royal Challengers Bangalore. Having joined the league in 2008, RCB has signed some of the top players in the league. However, they have yet to win an IPL trophy. In addition, the team has enjoyed success in the playoffs, making three final appearances. This blog discusses the players who’ve been captains of RCB.
They lost all three of their Indian Premier League (IPL) final appearances (in 2009, 2011 and 2016). The franchise hasn’t made any significant squad changes even though they haven’t yet won the championship. In the IPL thus far, the team has been led by seven different players.
We shall now discuss who was the first captain of RCB from the 2008 season until 2025.
Even though RCB has yet to win the trophy, this franchise remains one of the most popular in the tournament. The team through its logo always resonates deeply with the people of Bangalore.
Captains of RCB (2008-2025)
Captain | Span | Mts | Won | Lost | Tied | NR | % |
Rahul Dravid | 2008-2008 | 14 | 4 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 28.57 |
Kevin Pietersen | 2009-2009 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 33.33 |
Anil Kumble | 2009-2010 | 35 | 19 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 54.28 |
Daniel Vettori | 2011-2012 | 28 | 14 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 53.57 |
Virat Kohli | 2011-2021 | 140 | 64 | 69 | 3 | 4 | 48.16 |
Shane Watson | 2017-2017 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 33.33 |
Faf du Plessis* | 2022-2024 | 40 | 20 | 20 | 0 | 0 | 50 |
– | 2025 | – | – | – | – | – | – |
Players who’ve captained RCB for a substantial number of matches
1) Rahul Dravid (IPL 2008)
Rahul Dravid was RCB’s first captain during its maiden season in 2008. However, the squad did not play well, as they finished seventh out of eight. Dravid captained the team for only one season. He led 14 games and won four of them, losing the other ten.
2) Anil Kumble (IPL 2009, 2010)
After Rahul Dravid, former Indian captain Anil Kumble took over in 2009. He led the franchise in the 2009 and 2010 seasons. Kumble guided the RCB to the 2009 finals and the 2010 playoffs. Under his leadership, Bangalore played 35 games, winning 19 and losing 16.
3) Virat Kohli (2013-2022)
Virat Kohli, a former Indian captain, is the Royal Challengers Bangalore’s most-capped captain in the IPL and is inarguably the king of the IPL. When Daniel Vettori resigned in 2013, he took over as captain of the team. From that season till 2021, Virat remained captain. He later stood down as captain in 2022, after leading the team for nine seasons. Under Virat, RCB reached the 2016 final and advanced to the playoffs in 2015, 2020, and 2021. He led the squad in 140 matches, with 64 wins, 69 losses, three draws, and four no-results to his name.
Regarding IPL match betting, RCB, despite not winning the trophy at all, is still a very popular choice for gamblers!
To be noted
If you enjoyed this post about the captains of RCB, you can learn more about the IPL by going to the IPL 2024 Orange Cap List page.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1) Who is the current RCB captain?
Faf du Plessis. He took over the side’s reigns in 2022, leading RCB to the playoffs in 2022 and 2024.
2) Who was the RCB’s first captain?
Rahul Dravid was appointed RCB captain in the inaugural IPL season in 2008.
3) How many seasons has Virat Kohli led RCB?
Nine seasons run from 2013 until the conclusion of 2021.
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