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RCB's new skipper Rajat Patidar receives backing from Andy Flower
Patidar's appointment was back by RCB's head coach Andy Flower (Image credit: X/@rrjjt_01)

RCB's new skipper Rajat Patidar receives backing from Andy Flower

By Pavan Thimmaiah
Feb 13, 2025
03:04 pm
What's the story

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) have named Rajat Patidar as their new captain for the upcoming 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL) season. Meanwhile, the strategic decision has received strong backing from RCB's head coach, Andy Flower. He praised Patidar's leadership and stated according to ANI, "Regarding Rajat, I liked his patience and simplicity. A player should have such qualities for a game like IPL." Here's more.

Coach's endorsement

Flower praises Patidar's leadership qualities

"Rajat has the patience to observe everything calmly. No matter how many ups and downs he sees, he does not lose focus on the game," Flower said. He stated that Patidar has all the qualities needed to lead a team in a high-pressure tournament like the IPL. "Rajat has all the qualifications to be a captain," he added.

Leadership legacy

Patidar's journey to RCB captaincy

Patidar is set to lead RCB in their quest for IPL glory, continuing the club's legacy of strong leadership. His appointment follows legendary captains like Rahul Dravid, Kevin Pietersen, Anil Kumble, Daniel Vettori, Virat Kohli, and Faf du Plessis. This is a huge moment for RCB as they hope to build on their rich legacy of leadership with Patidar at the helm.

Captaincy

Patidar replaces Faf du Plessis

Patidar has replaced Faf du Plessis, who was released by the Royal Challengers following IPL 2024. He captained the side in the previous few seasons. Therefore, the Royal Challengers had a task of naming a new captaincy candidate. Kohli, who successfully led the franchise in the past, is believed to have denied the role. This led to Patidar's appointment.

Career highlights

Patidar's impressive track record in cricket

Patidar has led Madhya Pradesh across all formats, guiding them to the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy final last year. Meanwhile, since 2022, he has been a key player for RCB, amassing 799 runs in 24 innings at an average of 34.73 and a strike rate of 158.84, including a century and seven fifties. Additionally, his century against LSG in the 2022 IPL Eliminator made him the first uncapped player to score a hundred in the IPL playoffs.

SMAT and VHT

Patidar's impressive performance at SMAT and VHT

As mentioned, Patidar helped MP get to the 2024/25 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy final where they lost to Mumbai. The Indian batter hammered a ferocious 81*(40) in the final, (SR: 202.50). In 10 SMAT matches (9 innings), Patidar slammed 428 runs at 61.14 (50s: 5). Meanwhile, in six Vijay Hazare Trophy 2024/25 innings, Patidar managed 226 runs at an average of 56.50. According to ESPNcricinfo, he clocked a strike rate of 107.10, alongside one ton and a fifty.

International debut

Patidar's international cricket journey and future plans

Patidar has represented India in one ODI and three Tests, making his international debut against South Africa in late 2023. Despite a challenging Test series against England at home last year, scoring just 63 runs across six innings. However, the skipper still remains a crucial player for RCB and their quest towards a maiden IPL title.

Twitter Post

X post confirming Patidar's appointment