It was a telling moment at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium when Rajat Patidar, captain of Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), paused for a quiet prayer before tossing the coin ahead of their high-voltage clash against Rajasthan Royals in Match 42 of the IPL 2025. With Bengaluru witnessing a packed house, Patidar’s gesture hinted at both the pressure and the desperation his side is under at their home fortress, which ironically hasn’t offered them much fortification this season.
RCB’s 2025 campaign has been a paradox of sorts. While their away form has been nothing short of phenomenal—securing five wins on the trot—their performances at home have been riddled with inconsistency and frustration. They’ve played three matches at the Chinnaswamy this season and lost all three, each defeat following an almost scripted pattern: losing the toss, being asked to bat first on challenging wickets, failing to post a competitive score after early setbacks, and then finding it impossible to defend under lights as dew settled in and aided chasing sides.
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The coin toss, often dismissed as a formality, has had an outsized impact on RCB’s fortunes. And Patidar knows it. Despite acknowledging that the toss is out of their control, the skipper couldn’t help but seek divine intervention. However, his pre-toss prayer didn’t flip luck in his favor. Riyan Parag, captain of Rajasthan Royals, couldn’t help but chuckle at the moment before calling heads—and winning.
🚨 Toss 🚨@rajasthanroyals elected to field against @RCBTweets
Updates ▶️ https://t.co/mtgySHh88K #TATAIPL | #RCBvRR pic.twitter.com/8JwwIHyOmh
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) April 24, 2025
Post toss, Patidar remained calm but candid. “We would’ve bowled first as well,” he admitted. “The wicket has been tricky. We’ve played three games here and we need to adapt quickly. Shot selection will be key.” His remarks reflected a growing concern—Bengaluru’s surface hasn’t been the batting paradise it once was. Instead, it’s shown variable bounce and dual-paced behavior, making life difficult even for fluent stroke makers.
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Sticking with the same playing XI, Patidar emphasized the need for smarter, situation-based cricket. “The wicket isn’t flat like before. It’s been two-paced and the bounce is inconsistent,” he noted. “That’s where we need to improve—understanding what shots work and where to find the gaps. Playing square of the wicket might be our best option.”
Even in his pre-match media address, the message was clear: adaptation is survival. And in a season where fortunes can flip just like a coin, RCB will be hoping their captain’s instincts—and prayers—start yielding results at home.
