Rajat Patidar’s fitness has become a key talking point among Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) fans ahead of their crucial IPL 2025 clash against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). The RCB skipper sustained a finger injury during their recent encounter against Chennai Super Kings on May 3 at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium.
Initially ruled out of the next game against Lucknow Super Giants, Jitesh Sharma was expected to assume the leadership mantle. However, the IPL was briefly suspended on May 9 due to escalating cross-border tensions between India and Pakistan, giving Patidar some valuable time to recover.
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The tournament is now set to resume on Saturday, May 17, and all eyes are on whether Patidar has made full use of the unexpected break. The 31-year-old was spotted with a splint shortly after the injury, sparking concerns over the severity. But recent footage from RCB’s practice sessions has brought a sigh of relief—Patidar was seen facing fast bowling in the nets, showing no visible signs of discomfort.
The split is off. Just a few tapes, and Rajat Patidar is batting at the RCB nets. pic.twitter.com/NsWMr1Jtfl
— Shashank Kishore (@captainshanky) May 15, 2025
It’s a positive indicator that the Madhya Pradesh batter might return to the playing XI for the high-stakes clash against KKR. RCB is commanding with 16 points from 11 matches—eight wins and only three losses.
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A single victory from their remaining three fixtures will secure them a playoff berth. Patidar’s form, however, has seen a dip. After a strong start—186 runs in five innings at a strike rate of 161.73—his last six outings have yielded just 78 runs, averaging 13 with a strike rate of 100.
Interestingly, RCB began their IPL 2025 campaign with a win over KKR at Eden Gardens. They’ll now aim to complete the double over Rahane’s side and lock in a playoff spot for the fifth time in six seasons.
