Fans erupt as RCB appoints Rajat Patidar as captain for IPL 2025

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Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) have unveiled Rajat Patidar as their new captain for the 2025 edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL). The 31-year-old batter, known for his composed yet aggressive style, was introduced as the leader during an event at the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) on Thursday, February 13.

A fresh leadership era begins

With former skipper Faf du Plessis not retained by the franchise, RCB found themselves in search of a new leader ahead of the upcoming season. Patidar, who previously steered Madhya Pradesh to the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy final, now becomes the eighth cricketer to captain the Bengaluru-based team.

Rajat Patidar’s journey with RCB

Debuting in the IPL in 2021, Patidar has remained a key figure for the franchise ever since. His ability to take on both pace and spin with confidence has seen him amass 799 runs from 27 matches, maintaining a blistering strike rate of 158.85. Ahead of the mega auction, RCB chose to retain Patidar for INR 11 crore, alongside seasoned campaigner Virat Kohli and rising pacer Yash Dayal.

Also READ: Dinesh Karthik humorously requests Tilak Varma to “be nice” against RCB in future IPL encounters

New chapter in RCB’s captaincy history

Patidar’s leadership marks a new phase for RCB, who have seen Kohli and du Plessis guide the team in the past. Kohli first assumed captaincy duties in May 2011, filling in for an unavailable Daniel Vettori. He officially took over the full-time role in 2012, leading the side until stepping down in 2021.

During Kohli’s tenure, RCB reached the playoffs in 2015 and finished as runners-up in 2016, with the prolific batter smashing a record-breaking 973 runs that season. The team also secured playoff spots in 2020 and 2021. Under Du Plessis, RCB maintained their competitive streak, advancing to the playoffs in the 2022-24 period.

With Patidar at the helm now, RCB will look forward to a new era, aiming to secure their maiden IPL title under his leadership.

Here is how fans reacted:

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