New Delhi, February 13: Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) has embarked on a new era by appointing Rajat Patidar as the captain for the 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL) season. The announcement has received widespread praise, including from RCB’s head coach Andy Flower, who expressed full confidence in Patidar’s leadership qualities.
Andy Flower’s Praise for Patidar’s Leadership
Flower emphasized Patidar’s patience and calm demeanor as essential attributes that make him an ideal choice to lead a high-pressure team like RCB. Flower noted, “Regarding Rajat, I liked his patience and simplicity. A player should have such qualities for a game like IPL. Rajat has the patience to observe everything calmly. No matter how many ups and downs he sees, he does not lose focus on the game.”
The veteran coach also highlighted Patidar’s suitability for the role, saying, “Rajat has all the qualifications to be a captain.”
A Significant Moment for RCB
Patidar now shoulders the responsibility of guiding RCB toward its long-awaited IPL glory. His appointment continues a rich legacy of leadership at the franchise, which has seen cricketing icons like Rahul Dravid, Kevin Pietersen, Anil Kumble, Daniel Vettori, Virat Kohli, and Faf du Plessis take charge. Fans and analysts will be eager to see how Patidar embraces this leadership challenge.
Rajat Patidar’s Rise as a Star
Known for his strong batting, Patidar’s rise within the franchise has been meteoric. Since joining RCB in 2022, he has accumulated 799 runs in 24 innings, averaging 34.73 with a strike rate of 158.84, and includes a century and seven fifties. His remarkable century in the 2022 IPL eliminator against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) marked him as the first uncapped player to score a century in an IPL playoff match.
Patidar’s fire and consistency were instrumental in RCB’s strong push into the playoffs during the 2023 season. He scored 395 runs in 13 matches, averaging 30 and maintaining a strike rate of over 177, which helped RCB recover from a slow start to reach the playoffs.
Captaincy Experience and Leadership
Patidar also brings captaincy experience from his time with the Madhya Pradesh (MP) team across formats. In the 2024 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, he led MP to the finals, playing a key role with 428 runs in 10 matches, averaging 61.14, a strike rate of over 186, and five fifties. He ended as the second-highest run-scorer in the tournament.
International Exposure
Patidar has made his mark on the international stage as well. He debuted for India in both ODIs and Tests. In late 2023, he played a blistering 22-run knock in his ODI debut against South Africa. Although his Test career has faced some challenges, with only 63 runs in six innings against England, his potential and skill in limited-overs formats continue to stand out.
The Road Ahead for RCB
With the full backing of RCB’s management and senior players, Patidar now steps into the pressure-filled role of captain with the goal of leading the team to IPL success. His leadership, batting consistency, and tactical acumen will be crucial as RCB aims to end its pursuit of an IPL title. The appointment of Patidar adds an exciting dimension to the upcoming IPL season, and fans will be eager to see how he shapes the team’s fortunes.