Image: Rajat Patidar has been appointed as the new captain of Royal Challengers Bangalore / © Times Bull
For the IPL 2025 season, Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) have appointed Rajat Patidar as their new captain. Patidar, retained for ₹11 crore, has been a key performer for the franchise since his breakthrough season in 2022. He initially joined RCB in 2021 but had a quiet debut, scoring only 71 runs in four matches. However, after rejoining as a replacement in 2022 for ₹20 lakh, he made a significant impact, amassing 333 runs, including a match-winning 112* in the Eliminator against Lucknow Super Giants.
Patidar missed the 2023 season due to injury but returned in 2024 to score 395 runs at an average of 30.38 and a blistering strike rate of 177.13. Across 27 IPL matches, he has accumulated 799 runs at a strike rate of 158.85. His leadership appointment comes as RCB looks to build a fresh approach after past captains, including Virat Kohli, Faf du Plessis, and legends like Rahul Dravid and Anil Kumble.
Virat Kohli, retained for ₹21 crore, was another strong contender for captaincy. He previously led RCB in 143 matches, winning 68 and losing 70. With Patidar at the helm, RCB aims for its first-ever IPL title, having reached the playoffs nine times in 17 seasons.