The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 is kicking off again on Saturday after being paused because of tensions between India and Pakistan. The first match after the break will feature the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) taking on the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR).
Unfortunately for RCB, their captain, Rajat Patidar, has been sidelined with a finger injury that’s taking longer to heal than expected. According to the Indian Express, he might miss out on joining the India A squad for the tour to England. He’s been advised to wear a splint to protect his finger, which means he could also miss a few of the IPL’s early games. There’s still hope; if RCB makes it to the playoffs, he might be able to come back.
If Patidar has to sit out, RCB will need to find a new captain, and Virat Kohli seems like the best option. He led the team until 2021, and his experience would be really valuable right now. Another possible choice is Jitesh Sharma, who was set to lead the team against LSG before the tournament was halted. He was the vice captain for PBKS last season, so he could also be a solid pick.
