South African Faf du Plessis will succeed Virat Kohli as Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) skipper, the Indian Premier League team announced yesterday as it gears up to chase an elusive maiden tournament title. The former Test captain is a league veteran, making his debut for Chennai Super Kings in 2012 and a star of the side’s most recent national Twenty20 championship last year. He was subject to a fierce bidding war in last month’s player auction and eventually signed to Bangalore for more than $900,000.
“Faf was among our top priority at the IPL auctions,” said team chairman Prathmesh Mishra in a statement announcing the 37-year-old’s captaincy.
“Not only does he bring his great leadership skills to the team but (he) is... a proven campaigner in the IPL.”
The batsman is a veteran of all three formats and comes fresh from a stint with Bangladesh Premier League winners Comilla Victorians. He retired from Test cricket in February 2021 to concentrate on preparations for that year’s T20 World Cup but was not selected.
Days before South Africa’s ill-fated campaign in that tournament began, he made 86 off 59 balls to play a key role in Chennai’s fourth IPL win. Du Plessis said he was “glad to accept” his new role at Bangalore, which have been tournament runners-up three times but have yet to win a championship. “The work is just going to begin as we try to build off the success the team has enjoyed in previous years,” he said.“I will do my best to ensure a successful season this time.”
His predecessor Kohli – Bangalore’s longest-serving captain, who since September has relinquished the India helm for all three formats – will stay with the side for the coming season, which begins on March 26. “I couldn’t be happier to pass on the baton to a good friend, someone I’ve known over the years,” Kohli said.

Bangladesh’s Shakib backflips on South Africa tour
Bangladesh’s Shakib Al Hasan will be considered for this month’s South Africa series after all, selectors said yesterday days after the all-rounder claimed he was not in the right headspace for cricket. Shakib has struggled with poor performance and made just 60 runs and five wickets in the three-match ODI series against Afghanistan that finished last week. He told the Bangladesh Cricket Board that he was “mentally fatigued and physically stressed” and withdrew himself from contention for the South Africa tour after being named to the squad. But Shakib had a change of heart three days after he was rested from all formats until April 30, following a meeting with board president Nazmul Hassan in Dhaka.