Kolkata : Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Madhya Pradesh talented Batter Rajat Patidar has been appointed as RCB skipper for IPL 2025, bringing down curtains on speculations of Virat Kohli or Bhuvaneshwar Kumar becoming probable captain.
Patidar becomes the 8th captain of RCB in IPL History. The 31 years old joined RCB in IPL 2021, after being scouted 2-3 years before by RCB scouting team. With just 71 runs in 4 matches, he had a quiet outing that season.
Initially being unsold in IPL auction 2022, he came in as an injury replacement for Luvnith Sisodia. This was the season where he caught people’s eyes with stunning 112 runs against Lucknow Super Giants in the eliminator at Eden Gardens. He ended with 333 runs.
Patidar but missed 2023 season with an injury. He bounced back in 2024 and has been an integral part since then. He along with Kohli and Yash Dayal were only 3 players among RCB’s retained list in IPL 2025. His spin playing ability and calmness make him an efficient player.
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In 27 IPL matches, he scored 799 runs with 7 half centuries and 1 hundred & 159 strike rate. He’s also an experienced leader
The youngster revealed that he had conversation with RCB director Mo Bobat last year and came to know that the captaincy option was either he himself or Virat Kohli.
Patidar wanted to captain a state team before captaining RCB and he led Madhya Pradesh to the final of Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. He was also the 2nd highest run scorer of the tournament with 428 runs in nine innings at an average of 61.14 and strike rate of 186.08. In the Vijay Hazare Trophy, Patidar made 226 runs at an average of 56.50 and strike rate of 107.10.
“I had a conversation with Mo last year,” Patidar said. “I told him before getting the captaincy of RCB, I want to captain a state team. When they told me about this that it could be between Virat and Rajat, I was happy. I can’t express my reaction”.
“I really feel good right now. If I talk about my way of captaincy, I’m not that much expressive, but at the same time, I’m aware of the situation of the matches. So I think for me it’s important to back my players and stand with them and give the sort of involvement where they feel relaxed and confident. So yeah, I’m lucky that I am surrounded by one of the best people in the team and we have a group of leaders as well where their experience and ideas will definitely help in my new leadership role and growth as an individual also.”
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RCB have not won the IPL title yet, though they have been finalists on 3 occasions – 2009, 2011, 2016. They have made the playoffs in 4 of the last 5 seasons, including in 2024, when they won their last 6 league matches to qualify for playoffs but then lost the Eliminator.
Rajat Patidar, a fresh leader into the side is thus all set to lead the Men in Red and Gold, aiming for the maiden IPL title.
