New Delhi: The Royal Challengers Bengaluru declared Rajat Patidar as their new captain for the upcoming IPL 2025 on Thursday, February 13.
Rajat Patidar is set to assume the captaincy from Faf du Plessis, who led the team for three seasons from 2022 to 2024 and successfully guided them to the IPL playoffs on two occasions. Patidar returned to the IPL during the 2022 season as a replacement for Luvinth Sisodia in RCB, having previously played only four matches for the team in 2021, after which he was not retained.
In 2022, Rajat played eight matches and accumulated a total of 333 runs, including an impressive unbeaten score of 112 runs off 54 balls during the IPL Eliminator win against Lucknow Super Giants. However, he was sidelined for the 2023 season due to an Achilles heel injury, but the team chose to retain him for another season.
Prior to the IPL 2025 Mega Auction scheduled for November 2024, RCB has retained Patidar for Rs 11 crore, in addition to former captain and icon Virat Kohli at Rs 21 crore, and Yash Dayal at Rs 5 crore.
Patidar recently led Madhya Pradesh to the final of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2024-25, where they were defeated by the eventual winners, Mumbai. He hit 27 sixes and scored a total of 428 runs across nine matches, including five half-centuries. Patidar made his sole ODI and three Test appearances between December 2023 and February 2024.
In IPL 2024, Rajat played some great knocks for RCB. In 13 games, he managed to accumulated 395 runs at an average of 30.38 with an amazing strike rate of 177.13. He smashed five half-centuries, with his highest score being 55. He displayed his power game by hitting 33 sixes and 21 fours in the whole season.
Patidar has accumulated a total of 2,463 runs in 75 T20 matches, achieving an average of 38.48 and an impressive strike rate of 158.18.
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