After suggesting that skipper Kohli will not be taking charge as the skipper in IPL 2025, reports suggested that Madhya Pradesh batter Rajat Patidar might batter to put on an RCB jersey in the coming IPL season.
According to The Times of India, RCB was banking on Kohli returning as the team captain this season, the first time since obviously stepping down from the post in 2021.
However, the report added that the team was forced into a rethink in the light of some ‘strong indications’ coming in from Kohli and discussions with ‘senior India players in the RCB camp’, thereby pushing Patidar to a serious second choice. Another candidate, Krunal Pandya, has also been talked about in this context. It also stated that mentor Dinesh Karthik had played a big role in this search.
RCB is now poised to announce its new captain on Thursday, February 13, having sent media invites for a special event to take place at 11:30 a.m. Present at the moment would be several big-name staff members, including director Mo Bobat, head coach Andy Flower, and Karthik.
RCB did not think twice before releasing their talismanic skipper, Faf du Plessis, himself showing no inclination to aggressively pursue one of the many established captaincy options in the market, such as Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, and Rishabh Pant, among other seniors.
Patidar and Pandya lead Madhya Pradesh and Baroda, respectively, in domestic cricket. Patidar was retained for 11 crores by RCB. Madhya Pradesh reached the Iron Curtain final, where he scored most of the runs on the losing side.
RCB snapped up Pandya for Rs 5.75 crore at the auction, and despite controversies here and there, Captained Baroda effectively fostered another trend of punching above their weight.
Read more: – IPL 2025 RCB Team Players List with Price
Patidar has been a constant presence in the RCB middle-order as a player.
In an interview during the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy back in December 2024, he was asked about leading RCB and had said he’d take on the job willingly.
“Of course, should I be given any opportunity, I shall be happy if I become the captain of RCB, but that only depends on the franchise.”
The season is expected to kick-off in the third week of March.
