However, the proposed change never materialised. Patel said the two people who had discussed the captaincy offer with him, Ashish Nehra and Gary Kirsten, were replaced before the next season. He also revealed that he did not get an opportunity to play a single match in the 2020 Indian Premier League (IPL).
Parthiv Patel Reveals How RCB Offered Him the Captaincy
Speaking on a podcast with former India cricketer Aakash Chopra, Patel recalled how Nehra and Kirsten had informed him that he could replace Kohli as RCB captain.
Nehra served as RCB’s bowling coach in 2018 and 2019, while Kirsten was the team’s head coach. The franchise endured a difficult 2019 campaign, finishing at the bottom of the IPL points table.
Following the disappointing season, changes were made to the coaching setup. Mike Hesson and Simon Katich took charge of the team ahead of the 2020 campaign, and the earlier captaincy proposal did not move forward.
Patel said he had never spoken publicly about the matter before, although Moeen Ali had referred to it in an interview.
Recalling the conversation, Patel said, “I was told, ‘Get ready, we are thinking about this for next year.’ But the following year, the two people who had offered me the role – Ashish Nehra and Gary Kirsten – were replaced. New coaches came in, and I did not get to play a single match that entire season.”
Parthiv Patel Did Not Play a Single Match in IPL 2020
Despite having been considered for the captaincy, Patel did not feature in any match for RCB during the 2020 IPL season.
AB de Villiers took responsibility for wicketkeeping, while young batter Devdutt Padikkal became a regular member of the playing XI.
The changes proved effective for the franchise, which qualified for the playoffs for the first time since 2016. RCB eventually finished fourth after losing to Sunrisers Hyderabad in the Eliminator.
Patel announced his retirement from all forms of cricket after the 2020 IPL season. As a result, his last IPL appearance had come in 2019, a year before he retired.
Virat Kohli Continued as RCB Captain Until 2021
Although RCB had reportedly considered a captaincy change, Kohli remained at the helm during the 2020 season and continued to lead the team in 2021.
However, Kohli announced towards the end of the 2021 season that he would step down as RCB captain after the campaign. He continued playing for the franchise, but his decision brought his tenure as captain to an end.
Patel’s account offers a glimpse into RCB’s leadership discussions during a challenging period for the franchise. While the proposed change never took place, the coaching reshuffle ahead of IPL 2020 altered the team’s plans, leaving Kohli in charge and Patel without a single appearance in what turned out to be his final IPL season.