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Rajat Patidar Named RCB Captain for IPL 2025: A New Era Begins
Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) have officially appointed Rajat Patidar as their captain for the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 season. The announcement was made during a special event at the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) on February 13. Patidar, a dynamic middle-order batter, takes over the leadership role from Faf du Plessis, who was released ahead of the season.
With this decision, RCB enters a new era, choosing a young and aggressive leader who has proven his mettle in domestic and franchise cricket. Patidar’s leadership abilities were on display when he guided Madhya Pradesh to the final of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, making him a strong candidate for the RCB captaincy.
RCB’s Leadership Transition: Patidar Replaces Du Plessis
A New Chapter in RCB’s History
For the past few years, RCB relied on experienced captains like Virat Kohli and Faf du Plessis, but now they have opted for a homegrown talent in Rajat Patidar. The franchise was left without a clear captaincy option after releasing Du Plessis, leading them to turn to Patidar, who has been a consistent performer for the team.
Patidar’s Journey with RCB
- IPL Debut in 2021: Patidar was first picked by RCB in 2021 and quickly became a key player.
- Retained for INR 11 Crore: Ahead of the IPL 2025 Mega Auction, RCB decided to retain Patidar, Virat Kohli, and Yash Dayal as their core players.
- RCB Comeback in 2022: After going unsold in the 2022 IPL auction, Patidar got a second chance when he was called in as a replacement for an injured Luvinth Sisodia. He made an immediate impact, scoring 333 runs in 8 innings, including a century.
- Explosive Batting Record: Across his 27 IPL matches, he has amassed 799 runs at a strike rate of 158.85, making him one of RCB’s most destructive middle-order batters.
RCB’s Captaincy Legacy: From Kohli to Patidar
Virat Kohli’s Leadership Era
- Kohli first captained RCB in 2011, stepping in for Daniel Vettori.
- He became the full-time captain in 2012 and led the team until 2021.
- Under his leadership, RCB reached the playoffs in 2015 and finished as runners-up in 2016, a season where he set a record with 973 runs.
- RCB also qualified for the 2020 and 2021 playoffs under Kohli.
Du Plessis’ Short but Effective Stint
- After Kohli stepped down, RCB appointed Faf du Plessis as captain for the 2022-24 cycle.
- Under his leadership, RCB made the playoffs twice but failed to win the coveted title.
- Kohli stepped in as stand-in captain for three matches in IPL 2023, when du Plessis played only as an Impact Player due to injury.
With Patidar’s appointment, RCB is making a bold move by backing a relatively younger player instead of a veteran leader.
What Patidar’s Appointment Means for RCB in IPL 2025
Aggressive Middle-Order Leadership
Patidar is known for his attacking style of play, and his ability to take on both pace and spin makes him a match-winner. His leadership will bring a new attacking mindset to RCB, which has often struggled with consistency despite having some of the biggest names in world cricket.
Team Building Ahead of IPL 2025
With Patidar at the helm, RCB will look to build a squad around him, Kohli, and other key retained players. Their mega auction strategy will now revolve around assembling a balanced team that complements his leadership style.
Challenges Ahead for Patidar
- Leading an IPL franchise for the first time in his career.
- Handling pressure situations, especially in high-stakes games.
- Managing RCB’s expectations as they continue their hunt for their first IPL title.
RCB’s Retained Players for IPL 2025 (Placeholder: Link to an internal post about RCB’s retentions and auction strategy)
Official IPL Website (Linking to the IPL’s official site for more updates on the tournament)
With Rajat Patidar’s appointment as RCB captain, the franchise is set to embark on a new journey in IPL 2025. Backed by a strong batting record and leadership experience in domestic cricket, Patidar has a golden opportunity to cement his legacy as a leader in one of the most high-profile T20 leagues in the world. However, the challenge remains: Can he lead RCB to their first-ever IPL title?
Stay tuned for more updates on IPL 2025 and RCB’s campaign!
