Bengaluru, Feb 13 – Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) announced on Thursday that Rajat Patidar will lead the team for the upcoming IPL season, set to begin on March 21.
Patidar, a key retained player from last year’s mega auction, brings valuable leadership experience, having captained Madhya Pradesh in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (T20) and Vijay Hazare Trophy (ODI). The 31-year-old, who joined RCB in 2022, guided Madhya Pradesh to the final of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy last year, where they narrowly lost to Mumbai by five wickets.
The right-handed batter was also the second-highest run-scorer in the 2024 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, with 428 runs from 10 matches at an average of 61 and a remarkable strike rate of 186.08, only behind Ajinkya Rahane.
There had been speculations about former captain Virat Kohli returning to the helm, after his long stint as RCB captain from 2013 to 2021. Kohli led the team in 143 matches, the second-longest captaincy record in IPL history. However, Kohli, who was unable to secure an IPL title with RCB, expressed his support for Patidar’s appointment.
In a video message, Kohli congratulated Patidar, stating, “Myself and the other team members will be right behind you, Rajat. The way you have grown in this franchise and performed, you’ve made a place in the hearts of all RCB fans. This is very well deserved.”
