Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) has appointed Rajat Patidar as their new captain for IPL 2025, starting on March 21. The decision surprised many, as fans widely expected Virat Kohli to return as captain after RCB chose not to retain Faf du Plessis, who led the team from 2022 to 2024.
RCB made the announcement in Bengaluru at an event attended by team director Mo Bobat, head coach Andy Flower, and Patidar. The 31-year-old batter, who has played three seasons with RCB since 2021, has scored 799 runs in 28 matches at a strike rate of 158.85. Flower praised Patidar’s calm demeanor and leadership qualities, while Bobat confirmed that the team considered Kohli but believed he could lead without a captaincy title.
Patidar has recently gained leadership experience, captaining Madhya Pradesh in the 2024-25 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and Vijay Hazare Trophy. He finished as the second-highest run-scorer in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy with 428 runs at an average of 61.14 and a strike rate of 186.08.
Patidar was one of three players RCB retained ahead of the mega auction in November 2024. He expressed excitement about his new role, revealing that he had initially wanted to captain his state team before taking on an IPL leadership role.
RCB, who have never won an IPL title but have reached the finals three times, made the playoffs in 2024 after winning six consecutive league matches before losing the Eliminator. With Patidar’s appointment, only Kolkata Knight Riders and Delhi Capitals are yet to name their captains for IPL 2025.
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