Talented middle-order batter Rajat Patidar has expressed his desire to lead Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the upcoming season of the Indian Premier League (IPL). The 31-year-old claimed that he would be happy if the franchise gave him such an opportunity.
Patidar has been with RCB since IPL 2021 and has established himself as one of the mainstays for the franchise. The right-hander has developed into a solid middle-order batter who has the ability to change gears at any stage of the innings.
Regarded as a brilliant player of spin, Patidar has had three consecutive brilliant seasons with the bat for RCB in 2022, 2023, and 2024. As a result, he is also seen as one of the contenders to lead the team in IPL 2025.
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Rajat Patidar expresses a desire to lead RCB in IPL 2025
Rajat Patidar will feature in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2024 final which will be played between Mumbai and Madhya Pradesh on December 15 in Bengaluru. While speaking on the eve of the big clash, Patidar was asked about his intentions to lead RCB.
The right-hander was positive and claimed that he would be happy to lead but the decision relies on the management of the franchise. He also thanked the Royal Challengers Bengaluru for showing confidence by retaining him.
“Of course, if I get an opportunity to lead RCB, that is what I am there for, and I will be happy. But it all depends on the franchise. Yes, definitely. RCB is a big franchise and I love playing for RCB. So it (retention) gave me a lot of confidence that they retained me,” Patidar was quoted as saying by PTI.
Apart from Rajat Patidar, the biggest contender to lead RCB is Virat Kohli. Patidar was retained by RCB for INR 11 crore as the second retention behind Kohli, who was retained for INR 21 crore. Yash Dayal was another player retained by the franchise for INR 5 crore.
Rajat Patidar in SMAT 2024
Rajat Patidar has been in brilliant form in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, which is the second biggest T20 tournament in India after the IPL. He has scored 347 runs in nine matches so far at an average of 49.57 and an excellent strike rate of 182.63.
He is third on the list of highest run-scorers of the tournament. Being the captain of the team, Patidar has led his team from the front. He smashed 66 off just 29 balls with 4 fours and 6 sixes to lead his team into the final.
Rajat Patidar’s IPL numbers
Rajat Patidar has an impressive IPL record. He has played 27 matches in which he has scored 799 runs so far at an average of 34.73 and an impressive strike rate of 158.84. Recently, he played a key role in RCB’s road to the playoffs in IPL 2024 with 395 runs in 15 matches at an average of 30.38 and a strike rate of 177.13.
Patidar’s strength has been playing spin. He bats excellently in the middle overs and possesses the ability to take on the spinners in the middle overs, as he has shown over the years in the IPL.