Parthiv Patel confirmed Moeen Ali’s comments and revealed that Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) had decided to sack Virat Kohli as their captain.
The former Indian wicketkeeper-batter claimed he was set to be named the new captain of the franchise. However, no change was made in the leadership, and instead, the people who made the offer were removed.
Parthiv pointed out that it was Ashish Nehra and Gary Kirsten who had informed him that he would replace Virat in the top job. It is worth pointing out that Nehra was the bowling coach of the franchise in 2018 and 2019, while Kirsten was the head coach. In the 2019 season, RCB finished last on the table, and both were removed, with Mike Hesson and Simon Katich taking charge from the 2020 campaign.
Parthiv also revealed that he and Moeen were considered for the captaincy, but he won the race.
“I never spoke about it, but Moeen Ali mentioned it in an interview-I was told, ‘Be ready, we are thinking this for next year.’ But the next year, the two people who offered it to me [Ashish Nehra and Gary Kirsten] were replaced, new coaches came in, and I didn’t get to play a single match that entire season,” said Parthiv in an interaction on Aakash Chopra’s YouTube channel.
Parthiv did not play a single game for RCB in the 2020 season as AB de Villiers took over the wicketkeeping duties while Devdutt Padikkal replaced him as Kohli’s opening partner. The move worked as the Bengaluru-based franchise reached the playoffs for the first time since 2016.
After the end of the 2020 season, Parthiv announced his retirement from all forms of cricket, which meant his final game in the IPL came in 2019. Over the course of his career, he had two stints with RCB (2014, 2018-2010) and also played for Chennai Super Kings (2008-2010), Kochi Tuskers (2011), Deccan Chargers (2012), Sunrisers Hyderabad (2013), and Mumbai Indians (2015-2017). He played a pivotal role in the Mumbai-based franchise winning the title in 2015 and 2017.
Interestingly, Nehra has been serving as the assistant coach and batting coach since 2015, after being reunited with Nehra, who is their head coach. Kirsten also worked at GT with Nehra from 2022 to 2024.
As far as RCB are concerned, they have reached the playoffs in five of the six seasons since 2020, won their first title in 2025, and will defend their crown in 2026. Kohli stepped down from the captaincy in 2021 but continued to be their star player. Faf du Plessis led the team from 2022 to 2024, while Rajat Patidar was named captain in 2025 and led them to the title in both his seasons.