Sanjeev Churiwala, the chairman of Royal Challengers Bangalore franchise, has admitted that going 12 seasons without an IPL title does "add pressure" on the owners. Nonetheless Churiwala said that Virat Kohli, who has led Royal Challengers for the past 7 seasons, will continue to be the captain, and the franchise was "proud" to be "associated" with the Indian captain.

One of the most popular franchises in IPL, Royal Challengers have consistently been one of the biggest spenders at player auctions, but have rarely started as favourites despite making the final on three occasions (2009, 2011, 2016).

Their inconsistency was highlighted in 2017 when Kohli's team finished last in the eight-team tournament with just three wins. A year later, in 2018, they remained in the bottom tier, finishing sixth with half a dozen victories. Last year they slumped once again finishing last with only five wins, but four of those came in the second part of the season which had started with a record six consecutive losses.

"Absolutely," Churiwala said during a media briefing on Thursday, when asked about whether the title drought was putting the owners under pressure. "Performance is something that motivates us and drives all of us. We have been three times in the finals, (but) never lifted the trophy. It does add pressure. There's no doubt about it. But there is also a learning every time. Our last two performances (seasons) has not been really upto the mark, but otherwise by and large it was not something that we should be really concerned about."

On the back of a winning run that bookended an otherwise horrendous season, Kohli said he was "proud" of the 2019 performance. However the owners were not charitable and sacked the coaching staff led by former India head coach Gary Kirsten and former India fast bowler Ashish Nehra. They were replaced by a completely new coaching staff led by former New Zealand head coach Mike Hesson as team director along with former Australian batsman Simon Katich as head coach.

At the IPL player auction last December, Churiwala raised the paddle in the company of Hesson and Katich, but on most occasions they had to be satisfied with second or third choice picks with rival franchises with bigger purses snatching the men they were keen to get.

Royal Challengers squad of 21 players is the slimmest this IPL. Churiwala summed it up as a "balanced" squad. "Without getting into specific names, on the matter of what was in our minds - very clearly, we were buying out to ensure that we can create a core XI. Each and every player has a meaningful role to play, whether they're in the XI or not in the XI.

"Number two, we also wanted to ensure that we have a proper balance between the batting side and the bowling side. We wanted to ensure that there's strength on both sides. We had identified internally a couple of weaknesses we wanted to work upon, without getting to the specifics, some of the players we've chosen this time is to ensure that we stick to that. One of them was that the core players are national players, that's what we've stuck to also this time."

Churiwala remained optimistic still. "But, at least, with all the work that has happened since the last season we are very confident that at least we are going this time with a better squad, very clear preparations, very meaningful team. Rest let the team perform and deliver before we can speak more."

'Very, very proud Virat associated with us'

Churiwala also swept away any suggestion that the franchise would think of replacing Kohli at the helm. Just like Katich had done last September.

"Virat is the Indian captain," Churiwala said. "And has the highest fan-followers. We all love Virat and love to be associated with Virat."

Kohli's captaincy at Royal Challengers stretches to 110 matches with 49 wins and 55 losses. Having started as an uncapped player in IPL's inaugural year in 2008, Kohli has become their talisman. He is the tournament's highest run-maker. He holds the records for most runs in a single season (973) and most centuries as well (four)

"Look, this is what (the) game is: sometimes you lose, sometimes you win, but let's not forget what that individual is and what kind of track record he has," Churiwala said. "As RCB, as an RCB owner, we are very, very proud that Virat is associated with us."

However not everyone agrees. Last year, Gautam Gambhir, who led Kolkata Knight Riders to IPL titles, said Kohli was lucky to be retained as captain. Kohli, himself, laughed off criticism, saying he was not going to lose his sleep over not winning an IPL.

"Obviously, you want to win the IPL," Kohli said on the eve of Royal Challengers' 2019 season-opener. "I am doing what I am supposed to do. I don't care whether I am going to be judged on this [not winning IPL] or not. If I think like people from outside, I can't even sustain five games. I would be sitting at home. I know people talk about it a lot and they like to grab opportunities to talk about these things. But I have a responsibility here and given a chance, as a captain, I would love to win the IPL for my team. We all are motivated to do so."