Rajat Patidar Appointed as RCB Captain for IPL 2025

Sports Cricket

Posted by NewAdmin on 2025-02-13 08:37:14 |

Share: Facebook | Twitter | Whatsapp | Linkedin Visits: 9

---

In a significant leadership transition, Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) have appointed Rajat Patidar as their new captain for the 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL) season, succeeding Faf du Plessis. The announcement was made on Thursday, February 13, 2025.

Patidar, a 31-year-old batsman from Indore, has been a pivotal player for RCB since his impactful return in the 2022 season. Initially joining RCB in 2021, he re-entered the squad midway through 2022 as a replacement player and made an immediate mark. Notably, he scored an unbeaten 112 off 54 balls in the IPL Eliminator against Lucknow Super Giants, underscoring his potential as a match-winner.

The leadership change comes as Faf du Plessis, who captained RCB from 2022 to 2024, departs to join the Delhi Capitals. Under du Plessis's captaincy, RCB reached the IPL Playoffs twice, but the coveted championship title remained elusive.

RCB's head coach, Andy Flower, emphasized Patidar's leadership qualities as a key factor in his appointment. Flower stated, "I think that quality within him will be really important for him through the inevitable ups and downs that should come along with playing in the IPL and stepping up another gear and leading a big franchise in the IPL."

Despite speculation about Virat Kohli resuming the captaincy a role he held from 2013 to 2021 team director Mo Bobat highlighted that Kohli's leadership is inherent, regardless of formal titles. Bobat noted, "Virat doesn't need a captaincy title to lead. I think leadership.

Patidar's recent performances have further solidified his reputation as a dependable batsman. He led Madhya Pradesh to the showcasing his leadership capabilities on the domestic front.

As the new season approaches, Patidar faces the challenge of steering RCB to their first IPL title. Despite having a roster of cricketing luminaries and a fervent fan base, the franchise has yet to secure the championship, finishing as runners-up on three occasions.

The cricketing community has expressed optimism about Patidar's appointment. Former India player Robin Uthappa suggested that RCB should consider Patidar for the captaincy to build a leadership foundation for the future. Uthappa remarked, "I think they should look at Rajat Patidar to take over that role because it seems like you need a new leader after two years. So, you might as well do it now to get ahead of the curve and build a captain for the next three to five years." 

As RCB embarks on this new chapter under Patidar's leadership, fans and analysts alike will be keen to see how this strategic move influences the team's performance in the upcoming IPL season. 

Go!