Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) have surprised everyone by appointing a new captain for the 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL) season in the form of Rajat Patidar. The 31-year-old right-handed Madhya Pradesh batter, who started his IPL career in 2021, was retained by the franchise for ₹11 crore before the 2025 mega auction. Patidar becomes the eighth player to captain RCB, succeeding some of the most legendary captains in the history of the league.
Most anticipated that Virat Kohli would come back as RCB’s captain, but the franchise surprised fans and pundits everywhere by putting their faith in Patidar. RCB management feels his leadership abilities and recent form qualify him to lead the team into a new phase.
Dinesh Karthik, erstwhile India wicketkeeper and current RCB batting coach and mentor, explained the thinking behind this move in an appearance on Cricbuzz’s Hey CB with DK show.
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“The manner in which Rajat skippered Madhya Pradesh in the home season was amazing,” opined Dinesh Karthik. “There were numerous players who were raving about his captaincy, and it was a key factor in taking this decision. Because this is a new cycle for the side, we did not want a stale leader; we wanted somebody new to guide us, and Rajat fitted the bill.”
Patidar’s leadership qualifications were in full evidence during the 2024 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, as he led Madhya Pradesh to the final. He was the tournament’s second-highest run-getter, scoring 428 runs in 10 games at a strike rate of 186.08 and an average of 61.14. His best performances were a match-winning 66* off 29 balls in the semifinal against Delhi and a breathtaking 81 off 40 balls in the final against Mumbai.
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Patidar played his first international match for India in December 2023 against South Africa and has since scored 799 runs in 27 IPL games. With the added pressure of captaincy, everyone will be looking at him as he takes RCB into a new era, hoping to bring the franchise its much-awaited IPL title.
