In a major move for the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 season, Virat Kohli is set to reclaim his position as captain of the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB). Kohli has reportedly discussed his comeback to the leadership role with RCB’s management.

Kohli previously led RCB from 2013 to 2021, guiding them to four playoff appearances and narrowly missing an IPL title in 2016 after a loss to Sunrisers Hyderabad in the finals. He stepped down from the captaincy in 2021, coinciding with his decision to resign from India's T20I captaincy. Over the last three seasons, South African cricketer Faf du Plessis has captained RCB, but at 40, there is speculation he may be released as the franchise considers a shift in leadership.

Following discussions with the IPL franchise owners at the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) headquarters in July, the IPL Governing Council met on September 28 in Bengaluru to finalize regulations for the 2025-2027 IPL seasons. Key decisions included adjustments to player retention rules, auction budgets, and newly introduced match fees.

Key Decisions for IPL 2025:

• Player Retentions and RTMs: Franchises can retain up to six players, either through direct retention or the Right to Match (RTM) option. A maximum of five retained players can be capped (Indian or overseas), with up to two uncapped players.
• Auction Purse and Salary Cap: For 2025, each franchise's auction budget is set at INR 120 Crore. The total salary cap, which now includes auction budget, incremental performance pay, and match fees, will rise from INR 110 Crore in 2024 to INR 146 Crore in 2025, with further increases in 2026 and 2027.
• Introduction of Match Fees: For the first time in IPL history, players will earn an additional match fee of INR 7.5 Lakhs per game, including the Impact Player, alongside their contracted salary.
• Overseas Player Requirements: Overseas players must register for the Big Auction to be eligible. Those who do not register will be unable to join the following year’s auction.
• Ban on Withdrawal After Auction: Any player picked in the auction who later makes themselves unavailable for the season will face a two-year ban from both IPL participation and future player auctions.
• Uncapping Rules for Indian Players: Indian players who have not appeared in the starting XI for the national team across formats in the last five years or lack a central contract with BCCI will be reclassified as uncapped.

These changes mark an exciting phase for IPL 2025, with Kohli’s return as RCB captain adding anticipation for fans and players alike.

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