Rajat Patidar to Lead RCB in IPL Season
Patidar's appointment as captain marks a new era for RCB, and fans will be eager to see how he performs in his new role, leading a team with a rich history and a strong squad, including players like Virat Kohli and Yash Dayal, as they aim to win the IPL title.
Rajat Patidar, the 31-year-old middle-order batter, has been appointed as the captain of Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) for the upcoming season of the Indian Premier League (IPL), becoming the eighth player to lead the team.
Patidar, who led Madhya Pradesh to the final of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy earlier this season, was retained by RCB for INR 11 crores ahead of the 2025 season. He has been a part of the franchise since his IPL debut in 2021, scoring 799 runs at a strike rate of 158.85 in 27 games. RCB head coach Andy Flower praised Patidar's calmness, simplicity, and leadership qualities, saying he will be a great leader and captain for the team.
Patidar will lead the team after Faf du Plessis was released, and Virat Kohli had stepped down from captaincy. RCB Team Director, Mo Bobat, revealed that Virat Kohli was not considered for the captaincy of the team due to his "high expectations" and "demands" from the franchise. The team has had a history of changing captains, with eight players leading the team since its inception in 2008, including Rahul Dravid, Kevin Pietersen, and Anil Kumble.
As Patidar takes on the new role, he will aim to improve the team's performance and bring success to RCB, which has had a mixed record in the past, with some successful seasons under captains like Anil Kumble and Daniel Vettori, and some struggles under others. With his leadership qualities and batting skills, Patidar is expected to bring a new energy to the team and lead them to victory in the upcoming IPL season.
