New Delhi: For the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), who have been chasing the Indian Premier League (IPL) title ever since, the shift in responsibility in terms of who’ll be at the helm for the upcoming season wasn’t a difficult choice to make. The appointment of young and energetic Rajat Patidar as the skipper of RCB over the experienced Virat Kohli is certainly a strategic step taken by the franchise keeping in mind the impending years.
While Kohli was obviously a choice for captaincy but the retention list that was announced in November featuring Patidar and Yash Dayal in it, opened up the doors as fans and the entire fraternity started thinking about an alternative to the veteran Kohli, who means more than just a skipper to the team. While Kohli will continue to nourish the team and serve in the capacity of the most senior player, Patidar can surely be thought of as the ‘lucky charm’ for the side.
Even if we make an attempt to draw parallels with the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) franchise after they named Ruturaj Gaikwad their skipper over the successful MS Dhoni, we won’t be wrong. If the most successful side in the cash-rich league dared to take the step, it can work well for the side which is trying hard to get to the peak.
Patidar the ‘lucky charm’ for RCB in future
The first and foremost thing that can be thought of after RCB’s decision of appointing Patidar as the eighth skipper of the side is securing the future. While Kohli, who has been associated with the franchise ever since its inception, has given his sweat and blood for the side overs the years and it won’t be long before the veteran player decides to bid adieu.
Kohli, who retired from the T20Is in 2024, is in the last phase of his cricketing career which made it imperative for the side to think of a young and energetic mind to be at the helm. Patidar, who has been associated with the side since 2021, possesses a fair understanding of how the franchise functions among other things.
Patidar’s domestic and IPL excellence
The stylish right-handed batter’s selection has definitely been done on merit as Patidar has stats which back him in the role. Though it was bit of a roller-coaster ride for him with the RCB, after he went unsold in the 2022 auction and then was picked midway, Patidar has made the most of his opportunity in the 28 matches of the cash-rich league amassing 799 runs with an excellent strike rate.
Apart from excellence in his brief IPL career, the batter from Madhya Pradesh sizzled in the domestic cricket in 2024-25 season, which further helped him in being retained by the franchise and also being chosen as the skipper. In the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, he emerged as the second-highest run-scorer, amassing 428 runs at a strike rate of 186.08. Patidar followed it up with an excellent show in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, where he scored 226 runs at an average of 56.50.
Local over overseas
Patidar replaced Faf du Plessis as the new skipper of the RCB and the franchise hopes that they have an edge after naming the 31-year-old Patidar as the skipper. IPL, which is an Indian competition played on Indian pitches and mostly against Indian cricketers, needs someone with a local knowledge and understanding of all the parameters. The two most successful sides in the league – Mumbai Indians and CSK, flew high under the guidance of Rohit Sharma and MS Dhoni. To add to it, last-year winners Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) had a pivotal role being played by Shreyas Iyer.
Rajat Patidar succeeded South African veteran Faf du Plessis as the skipper of the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) franchise in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
