IPL 2017: RCB missing Virat Kohli as they take on Zaheer Khan's Daredevils

Virat Kohli

Bangalore: Virat Kohli is perhaps cricket's first non-playing captain. A bad fall on his right shoulder during the third India-Australia Test in Ranchi has put the Indian and Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB)âÂu00c2u0080Âu00c2u0088skipper in that position - one that is normally associated with the game of tennis. Kohli though, is a self-appointed one, unlike Mahesh Bhupathi, who is playing a similar role only a stone's throw away from Chinnaswamy Stadium, leading India in the Davis Cup tie against Uzbekistan.

Unenviable situation
When RCB host the Delhi Daredevils this evening, you wouldn't want to be in Kohli's shoes. The IPL is in its 10th year and the occasion is being marked elaborately at each venue. And here is a man who from Day One has played for RCB, picked initially from the draft for Under-19 players, unable to take the field, just as it happened during the crucial series-deciding Test against the Australians at Dharamsala.

Kohli would be hurting even more given the fact that he had as many as 973 runs under his belt the previous season, when he also scored four 100s and all but took his side to the title. Worse, his side, normally packed with power-hitters down the line, doesn't have the likes of KL Rahul or AB de Villiers either, the last named, fighting to be declared fit. Even worse, the actual captaincy has been handed to an Australian, not exactly Kohli's favourite tribe presently.

Captaincy issues
Ironically enough, RCB are up against Delhi Daredevils who too have had captaincy issues, having tried out as many six in the nine seasons gone by. And at the start of the ninth season the newly appointed Zaheer Khan, who turned out be a revelation with his innovativeness, had said it would be his swansong tournament, having already announced his retirement from all other forms of cricket. But come the 10th edition and Zaheer is very much around, although he's not expected to play all their games. So for some games it does seem he too will slip into a non-playing captain's role. Wonder if Bhupathi thinks he will have a shot too, with one IPL team or the other.