Rajat Patidar’s rise to captaincy marks a new chapter in Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s IPL journey. With a solid domestic and IPL track record, he now steps into a leadership role, aiming to take the franchise to new heights. Here are the key takeaways from this significant appointment.
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Rajat Patidar takes over the leadership reins of Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) for IPL 2025, signaling a fresh start for the franchise after the release of Faf du Plessis.
Patidar’s leadership credentials were showcased when he led Madhya Pradesh to the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy final earlier this season, paving the way for his IPL captaincy.
RCB’s faith in Patidar was evident as they retained him for INR 11 crore, making him one of their three key retentions alongside Virat Kohli and Yash Dayal.
Since his debut in 2021, Patidar has amassed 799 runs in 27 IPL matches at an impressive strike rate of 158.85, proving his ability to dominate both pace and spin.
Patidar made history in IPL 2022 by becoming the first uncapped player to score a century in the playoffs, smashing 112* off 54 balls against Lucknow Super Giants.
With Kohli stepping down in 2021 and du Plessis leading from 2022-24, RCB’s decision to back Patidar marks a strategic shift towards a younger, homegrown leader.
Virat Kohli captained RCB for nearly a decade, leading them to playoffs multiple times. Patidar will now aim to take the team one step further to claim their elusive maiden title.
Patidar has been a consistent performer in domestic cricket, excelling in the Ranji Trophy and Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, making his captaincy appointment a well-earned milestone.
With Patidar at the helm, RCB’s batting lineup and overall strategy may see a shift, especially with Kohli playing a key mentorship role alongside the new captain.
Leading an IPL franchise comes with immense pressure, but Patidar has shown resilience and composure in high-stakes situations. RCB fans will be eager to see if he can deliver the long-awaited trophy.
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