Royal Challengers Bengaluru RCB
Formerly Royal Challengers Bangalore (until 2023)
Royal Challengers Bengaluru have split their IPL captaincy into six eras since 2008. The longest ran nine seasons, under Virat Kohli. Win rate, playoff runs, titles and every other captain who led inside them.
Captains of Royal Challengers Bengaluru
Royal Challengers Bengaluru have turned to six captains in the IPL since 2008. One IPL title came under Rajat Patidar, with Virat Kohli, Faf du Plessis and three others also taking charge.
Each era is assigned to the season’s primary captain — whoever led most of that year’s matches. Other captains are named in each era below.
All Royal Challengers Bengaluru captains by matches led
Captain ↕ | Matches ↕ | W–L | Win % ↕ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virat Kohli | 144 | 68–71 | |
| Faf du Plessis | 42 | 21–21 | |
| Anil Kumble | 26 | 15–11 | |
| Daniel Vettori | 23 | 12–10 | |
| Rajat Patidar | 14 | 10–3 | |
| Rahul Dravid | 14 | 4–10 | |
| Kevin Pietersen† | 6 | 2–4 | |
| Shane Watson† | 3 | 1–2 | 33.3% |
| Jitesh Sharma† | 2 | 1–1 | 50.0% |
RCB's all-time 50.2% win rate
Led matches without ever being a season's primary captain. Win rate excludes abandoned and no-result matches; Super Over wins count.
RCB captaincy only — follow a name for that captain's full IPL record.
RCB were crowned champions in 2025 under Patidar, beating PBKS in the final, the franchise's first.
Of the 16 matches this era covers, Patidar led 14, with Sharma standing in for two in the interim.
RCB reached the playoffs in two of three seasons under du Plessis, without going on to a final.
Of the 45 matches this era covers, du Plessis led 42, with Kohli standing in for three in 2023.
RCB reached the 2016 final under Virat Kohli, beaten by SRH. RCB recorded 61 victories, with three further playoff runs.
RCB played 134 matches in this era — Kohli captained 131, Watson three in 2017.
Vettori took RCB to the 2011 final, beaten by CSK. RCB posted 18 wins.
Vettori led 23 of the 33 matches this era covers; Kohli led ten in 2011 and 2012.
Kumble took RCB to the 2009 final, losing to Deccan Chargers. RCB won 53.1% of its 32 matches, plus one more playoff campaign.
This era covers 32 matches; Kumble led 26 of them and Pietersen six in 2009.
Dravid's 2008 season brought four wins from 14 matches, and RCB stayed outside the playoffs.
Season-by-season captaincy record for Royal Challengers Bengaluru
Every season, with the captain of each match. Open a season to see the order they led in.
| Match | Opponent | Captain | Result | Venue | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 03 Jun | PBKS | Patidar | Won | Away | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 29 May | PBKS | Patidar | Won | Away | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 27 May | LSG | Sharma * | Won | Away | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 23 May | SRH | Sharma * | Lost | Away | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 17 May | KKR | Patidar | Abandoned | Home | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 03 May | CSK | Patidar | Won | Home | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 27 Apr | DC | Patidar | Won | Away | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 24 Apr | RR | Patidar | Won | Home | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 20 Apr | PBKS | Patidar | Won | Away | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 18 Apr | PBKS | Patidar | Lost | Home | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 13 Apr | RR | Patidar | Won | Away | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 10 Apr | DC | Patidar | Lost | Home | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 07 Apr | MI | Patidar | Won | Away | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 02 Apr | GT | Patidar | Lost | Home | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 28 Mar | CSK | Patidar | Won | Away | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 22 Mar | KKR | Patidar | Won | Away | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
A season with more than one captain — the era above is credited to whoever led most of it.
Away includes neutral venues.