RCB’s Bold Move with Rajat Patidar as Captain
The Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) have announced Rajat Patidar as their captain for the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025, set to commence on March 21. This decision came as a surprise to many, as Virat Kohli, a veteran and former captain of the franchise, was widely expected to assume the leadership role once again. The announcement was made in Bengaluru during an event attended by team director Mo Bobat, head coach Andy Flower, and the newly appointed captain, Rajat Patidar. Patidar, who has played three seasons for RCB since joining in 2021, has become one of the team’s key batters, scoring 799 runs in 28 matches at an impressive strike rate of 158.85.
Patidar’s Calm and Quiet Leadership
Head coach Andy Flower highlighted Patidar’s qualities that make him a suitable leader for the RCB. "There is a calmness to Rajat, and that will stand him in good stead, especially in the IPL," Flower said. Patidar is described as an inherently quiet individual, but his care for his teammates and the dressing room environment are commendable leadership traits. These attributes, combined with his batting prowess, make him a strong choice for the captaincy.
Consideration of Virat Kohli
Mo Bobat, the team director, confirmed that Virat Kohli was indeed an option the team management had considered. "Both Virat and Rajat were credible captaincy options," Bobat said. "We didn’t want to go into the auctions with a captaincy option in mind. We wanted an Indian captain predominantly because this is an Indian competition." Bobat emphasized that Virat does not need the captaincy title to lead, as evidenced by his influence on the team even when Faf du Plessis was the captain.
The Decision-Making Process
The decision to appoint Patidar was not made lightly. The team management, including Dinesh Karthik, the batting coach, and Virat Kohli, discussed the options extensively. "We spent some time discussing with DK. We had multiple conversations with Virat. What struck us about Rajat was that he was very keen on leadership and captaincy," Bobat said. Patidar’s experience captaining Madhya Pradesh (MP) in the domestic circuit, particularly in the 20-over Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and the 50-over Vijay Hazare Trophy, provided compelling evidence of his capabilities as a leader.
Patidar’s Domestic Success
Rajat Patidar, 31, has already shown his leadership skills and batting prowess in domestic cricket. He was one of the three players RCB retained ahead of the mega auction in November last year. His first full-time captaincy assignments came in the 2024-25 seasons of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and the Vijay Hazare Trophy, where MP finished as runners-up in the former. Patidar was the second-highest run-scorer in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, with 428 runs in nine innings at an average of 61.14 and a strike rate of 186.08. In the Vijay Hazare Trophy, he made 226 runs at an average of 56.50 and a strike rate of 107.10. These performances solidified his position as a capable captain and batter.
RCB’s Title Aspirations
RCB have not yet won the IPL title, though they have reached the finals three times, the last of which was in 2016. They have made the playoffs in four of the last five seasons, including in 2024, where they won their last six league matches to secure a spot in the top four but lost in the Eliminator. With Patidar at the helm, the team hopes to break this trend and finally secure their first IPL title. As the only two teams yet to name their captains for the upcoming season, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Delhi Capitals (DC) will also be closely watching how RCB’s new leadership dynamic unfolds.
