Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) have officially announced Rajat Patidar as their new captain for the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 season. The much-anticipated announcement was made in Bengaluru on February 13 at an event attended by head coach Andy Flower, team director Mo Bobat, and the newly appointed skipper, Rajat Patidar.
Virat Kohli Declines Captaincy; Patidar Takes Charge
There was speculation that Virat Kohli might return as captain, but multiple reports suggested that the former RCB leader was not interested in taking up the role again. This led the franchise to look for a fresh face to lead the team, and 31-year-old Rajat Patidar emerged as the ideal choice.
Rajat Patidar Captaincy Experience & IPL Journey
Rajat Patidar has a solid leadership background, having captained Madhya Pradesh in domestic tournaments like the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) and Vijay Hazare Trophy. Under his leadership, Madhya Pradesh reached the SMAT final but lost to Mumbai. He showcased his batting prowess in the tournament, finishing as the second-highest run-scorer with 428 runs in 10 matches at an astonishing strike rate of 186.08.
Patidar joined RCB in 2021 and has since become a key middle-order batter. In 28 IPL matches, he has scored 799 runs at a strike rate of 158.85, making him one of the most explosive batsmen in the team. His experience and consistency made him the perfect candidate to take RCB forward in IPL 2025.
RCB Quest for Maiden IPL Trophy
Despite being one of the most popular franchises, RCB is yet to win an IPL title. The team has reached the finals three times (last in 2016) and has been a consistent playoff contender, securing a top-four finish in four of the last five seasons, including IPL 2024. Last season, they made a remarkable comeback, winning their last six league matches to reach the playoffs but were eliminated in the Eliminator.
Only Two Teams Left to Announce Their Captains
With RCB announcement, only Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Delhi Capitals (DC) are yet to confirm their captains for IPL 2025. Notably, Shreyas Iyer, who led KKR in 2024, will now captain Punjab Kings, while former DC skipper Rishabh Pant has taken over Lucknow Super Giants.
RCB Full Squad for IPL 2025
Batsmen & All-rounders: Virat Kohli, Rajat Patidar, Liam Livingstone, Phil Salt, Jitesh Sharma, Tim David, Devdutt Padikkal, Krunal Pandya, Manoj Bhandage, Jacob Bethell, Swastik Chhikara, Abhinandan Singh
Bowlers: Yash Dayal, Josh Hazlewood, Rasikh Dar, Suyash Sharma, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Swapnil Singh, Romario Shepherd, Nuwan Thushara, Lungi Ngidi, Mohit Rathee.
