Rajat Patidar Named RCB Captain for IPL 2025 

Rajat Patidar has been named the new captain of the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) for the upcoming IPL 2025 season. The announcement was made by the RCB management during an event in Bangalore. Patidar, a pivotal player for RCB, was selected over other experienced candidates such as Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, and Jitesh Sharma, all of whom have held leadership roles in domestic cricket. It is worth noting that Virat Kohli was approached for the captaincy but chose to decline, remaining consistent with his decision from four seasons ago to step back from leadership positions.

Patidar has demonstrated remarkable form in domestic cricket recently. He led Madhya Pradesh to the finals of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) 2024-25, highlighting his leadership skills. After missing the 2023 season due to injury, he returned last season to score 395 runs at an impressive strike rate of 177.13, which included five half-centuries.

A new chapter begins for RCB and we couldn’t be more excited for Ra-Pa! 🤩

From being scouted for two to three years before he first made it to RCB in 2021, to coming back as injury replacement in 2022, missing out in 2023 due to injury, bouncing back and leading our middle… pic.twitter.com/gStbPR2fwc

— Royal Challengers Bengaluru (@RCBTweets) February 13, 2025

Following his appointment, Patidar expressed his excitement, stating, “Yes, definitely. RCB is a big franchise, and I love playing for RCB. So, it (retention) gave me a lot of confidence that they retained me.”

After Rajat Patidar was appointed as captain for IPL 2025, Andy Flower shared his thoughts on the young leader, saying

“There are three key things to highlight. First, there’s a sense of calm and simplicity that’s essential for success in the IPL, and this will be a great asset to him. Second, while he’s reserved, he genuinely cares about those around him, which naturally earns him respect. As a leader, this will inspire others to follow his lead. Lastly, he possesses a determined and unyielding nature, which is evident in the way he approaches the game, always taking it on with full force,” as Andy Flower stated.

Upon Rajat Patidar’s appointment as captain for IPL 2025, Virat Kohli expressed his thoughts and support for the young leader, stating

“Best of luck to you. The way you’ve developed and earned a special place in the hearts of fans across India is truly well-deserved. Both I and the rest of the team will stand by you as you take on this big responsibility. Leading the franchise is a tremendous honor, and I’m confident that you’ll continue to grow stronger with every challenge.

He has evolved, his game has reached new heights, and his experience leading the state team has shown he has what it takes to lead a franchise. I urge the fans to show him their full support, as he will always make decisions in the best interest of the team. At the end of the day, what matters most is the team and the franchise. Sending my best wishes to everyone, and I’m looking forward to collaborating with all involved.”