The cricketing world has been abuzz with rumors of Mumbai Indians (MI) star Rohit Sharma potentially shifting to Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) ahead of the 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL) season. The speculation suggested that the star Indian opener could leave MI after his removal as captain of MI and join the Bangalore-based team. This rumor left fans both surprised and excited, contemplating the impact of such a blockbuster move.

AB de Villiers reacts on the speculations

Former RCB icon AB de Villiers recently addressed these rumors, pouring cold water on the possibility of Rohit making the switch to RCB. “I almost laughed at the Rohit comment. That will be quite a story if Rohit moves from Mumbai Indians to RCB. Wow! Imagine the headlines. It will be bigger than Hardik Pandya‘s move. He moved from Gujarat Titans back to Mumbai, which although wasn’t big a surprise,” De Villiers stated clearly hinting at his disbelief on his YouTube channel. De Villiers, who remains closely connected with RCB, expressed that while anything is possible in cricket, the idea of Rohit leaving MI didn’t seem likely to him.

“But if Rohit moves from Mumbai to join his rivals in RCB…oh my god! I don’t think there is an option there. I don’t see a possibility of MI leaving Rohit. I will give that zero or 0.1 per cent chance,” he added.

De Villiers on Rohit Sharma’s loyalty

De Villiers went on to speak about Rohit’s loyalty to Mumbai Indians, emphasizing that his connection with the franchise runs deep. He added that MI has undergone recent leadership changes and it wouldn’t make sense for the franchise to let go of their influential captain at such a critical juncture. “I think Rohit’s roots with Mumbai Indians are too strong for this,” the former Proteas skipper reckoned, emphasizing that Rohit is too integral a part of the team for a move to RCB to materialize.

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Rohit enjoyed a stellar time as MI captain

Notably, Rohit has enjoyed a remarkable tenure as the captain of Mumbai, leading the franchise to a record five IPL titles. Since taking over the captaincy in 2013, he has been a key figure for MI, helping shape the team’s identity and nurturing young talents. Under his leadership, Mumbai have become one of the most successful teams in IPL history. This stellar track record only adds to the unlikeliness of him moving to RCB, as his legacy with MI is irreplaceable. However, his removal as captain could lead Rohit to reconsider his future with the franchise. Such a significant change might create a sense of uncertainty for him, prompting thoughts about exploring new opportunities and challenges, potentially making a move to another team, like RCB, more appealing than it once seemed.

Also READ: IPL 2025: 6 players Mumbai Indians (MI) can retain ahead of mega auction