Fans’ hopes to see Virat Kohli leading the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) hit brick wall as the franchise announced the appointment of Rajat Patidar, a name that is yet to become an international regular, its captain. The franchise’s call did surprise a few considering rumours of Virat’s potential return to the leadership role were doing rounds for a long time. Former India cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar, however, feels the right call was made by the franchise as it didn’t want to put additional pressure on the batter, who has already quit T20 internationals.

“I thought RCB took a very good decision. They didn’t want to put pressure on Virat Kohli by giving him the responsibility of captaincy. When someone is in the nothing-to-lose zone, you must have seen reality shows, when someone is out of the race or singing in his farewell round,” Manjrekar said on Star Sports.

Manjrekar also feels, with T20 international behind them, and leadership role also a thing in the past, both Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma might go on to make the IPL 2025 season a memorable one for themselves.

“I think the best of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli in recent times will be seen in this IPL. These two are big brands of Indian cricket, are together in this game,” Manjrekar added.

After the big announcement, RCB team director Mo Bobat revealed that Kohli was an option for them for the leadership role. 

Virat Kohli does not require the “captaincy title” to be in charge because of his natural penchant for leadership and it will benefit new skipper Rajat Patidar, reckons Mo Bobat, the team director of Royal Challengers Bengaluru. Patidar was on Thursday unveiled as the RCB captain ahead of IPL 2025.

“Virat was an option (for captaincy). I know that the fans would have probably leaned towards Virat in the first instance. But my point on Virat would be that Virat doesn’t need a captaincy title to lead,” Bobat said in a media interaction.

“Leadership, as we’ve all seen, is one of his strongest instincts. I think it just comes naturally to him. He leads regardless. But we’ve seen a lot of love for Rajat too,” Bobat added.

With PTI Inputs

Mohammad Kaif was caught off guard by the appointment of Rajat Patidar as RCB skipper.© BCCI

File photo of Virat Kohli playing for RCB© BCCI/Sportzpics

Virat Kohli does not require the “captaincy title” to be in charge because of his natural penchant for leadership and it will benefit new skipper Rajat Patidar, reckons Mo Bobat, the team director of Royal Challengers Bengaluru. Patidar was on Thursday unveiled as the RCB captain ahead of IPL 2025. “Virat was an option (for captaincy). I know that the fans would have probably leaned towards Virat in the first instance. But my point on Virat would be that Virat doesn’t need a captaincy title to lead,” Bobat said in a media interaction.

“Leadership, as we’ve all seen, is one of his strongest instincts. I think it just comes naturally to him. He leads regardless. But we’ve seen a lot of love for Rajat too,” Bobat added.

The former England high performance coach said Kohli has always set an example on the field with his performance.

“He leads, as an example. The volume of runs and the strike rate that he scored last year was so important for us. Everyone in the field knows that they’ve got to be up to their standards because of him. Everyone’s seen how much he likes a fight and a scrap,” he said.

Bobat said it is an excellent opportunity for Patidar to learn from Kohli.

“He’s an example. (Head coach) Andy (Flower) and I lean on him quite a lot. (Former captain) Faf (Du Plessis) had leaned on him quite a lot. We’re pretty sure that Rajat will also be leaning on him too,” he said.

Bobat said Kohli backed the decision to appoint Patidar as captain to the hilt.

“Andy and I spent some time with Virat earlier this week, actually, in Ahmedabad (during India’s 3rd ODI vs England). What was so obvious was he had so much energy and excitement for this decision. He’s so pleased for Rajat.

“Like us, he knows how deserving Rajat is of this opportunity. He’s right behind him and we saw a real sense of energy and excitement from him.

“It’s brilliant to know that Virat’s on board and he’s right behind him. We’re all certain Rajat’s in safe hands with Virat right next to him,” he detailed.

So, what are the qualities in Patidar that made him the eventual choice for RCB captaincy? “I spent some time talking to Rajat about his captaincy aspirations. And what struck us was that he was very determined and ambitious about leadership and captaincy. He really wanted to do this.” But the RCB thought leaders were also blown away by the simplicity in which he approached the possibility of him being the team’s captain.

“There’s a calmness and a simplicity to Rajat that I think will stand him in really good stead as a leader and a captain, particularly in the IPL. We watched Rajat very closely as he captained Madhya Pradesh in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, and we really liked what we saw around those qualities,” said Bobat.

“Secondly, he cares about the people around him. He cares about the people that he plays with, that he shares a dressing room with, and I think that’s a quality that means that he will instantly have the respect and care from other people.” Flower said those nice traits actually mask the steel inside Patidar.

“He’s got a stubbornness and a strength and a steeliness about him. One of the traits I love most about him is, he’s very brave under pressure. And in those moments of games where the game’s on the line, it’s typically been Rajat throwing a few punches for us.

“And if he can take all of that into his captaincy, which I’m sure he will, and he certainly has done for his state, I think it will stand the team in a really good stead,” he added.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) has ushered in a new era with the appointment of Rajat Patidar as their captain for the 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL) season. The decision has been met with praise from RCB head coach Andy Flower, who expressed his confidence in Patidar’s leadership qualities. Speaking about the new skipper, Flower highlighted Patidar’s patience and calm demeanour as key attributes that make him an ideal leader. “Regarding Rajat, I liked his patience and simplicity. A player should have such qualities for a game like IPL. 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.

The veteran coach further emphasized that Patidar possesses all the essential traits required to captain a side in a high-pressure tournament like the IPL.

“Rajat has all the qualifications to be a captain,” he added.

With the backing of the team’s management and senior players, Patidar now steps into a crucial role, aiming to lead RCB toward their long-awaited IPL glory. Fans will be eager to see how he takes on this challenge in the upcoming season.

Patidar, known for his solid batting, now shoulders the responsibility of leading RCB in their pursuit of IPL glory. His appointment continues the rich legacy of leadership at the club, following in the footsteps of cricketing greats such as Rahul Dravid, Kevin Pietersen, Anil Kumble, Daniel Vettori, Virat Kohli, and Faf du Plessis.

Patidar’s appointment marks a significant moment for RCB, as the franchise looks to build on its rich legacy of leadership.

RCB has long been home to some of the most influential leaders in the game, and Patidar’s elevation to the role reflects the team’s faith in his abilities. With his tactical awareness and fearless approach, he will look to guide the team to success and cement his place among the franchise’s iconic captains.

Rajat Patidar has captaincy experience as a part of Madhya Pradesh (MP) team across all formats. In last year’s Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, he led MP to the finals and played a crucial role in their campaign with 428 runs in 10 matches at an average of 61.14, a strike rate of over 186 and five fifties, ending as the second-highest run-getter in the tournament.

Patidar’s game against spin and ability to hit sixes against them have been standout features of his game.

He has been one of RCB’s standout Indian talents since 2022, scoring 799 runs in 24 innings at an average of 34.73 and a strike rate of 158.84, with a century and seven fifties. His century against LSG during the 2022 IPL eliminator is a standout knock, making him the first uncapped player with a century in the IPL playoffs.

Last season for RCB, he scored 395 runs in 13 matches at an average of over 30 and a strike rate above 177, with five fifties. His fiery knocks were crucial in RCB’s late surge into playoffs after just one win in the first eight games.

He has also played an ODI and three Tests for India, having made his international debut against South Africa in 2023-end, playing a fiery 22-run knock.

In Tests, he struggled against England at home last year, with just 63 runs across six innings and best score of 32.

India batter Rajat Patidar has been appointed captain of the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) for the upcoming IPL 2025, starting on March 21. RCB made this announcement at an event in Bengaluru on Thursday, with Patidar, director of cricket Mo Bobat, and head coach Andy Flower in attendance. Patidar will replace former South African batter Faf du Plessis, who captained the side from 2022 to 2024 but was not retained in last year’s IPL mega auction.

The right-hander was one of the three players retained by the franchise along with former India captain Virat Kohli and pacer Yash Dayal. It will be his first leadership role in the IPL while on the domestic level, he captained his state Madhya Pradesh in the 2024-25 seasons of the 20-over Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and the 50-over Vijay Hazare Trophy.

The 31-year-old has played three seasons for the franchise since joining RCB in 2021 and has become a vital player for the side. He has scored 799 runs in 28 matches at a strike rate of 158.85.

On Patidar’s appointment as RCB, Kohli congratulated him, saying, “Rajat, firstly I want to congratulate you and wish you all the very best. I want to tell you that the way you have grown in this franchise and the way you have performed, you have really made a place in the hearts of all the fans of RCB all over India. They get really excited to watch you play, so this is very well deserved. I want to tell you that I and the other team members will be right behind you and you’ll have all our support to grow into this role.

Patidar was the second-highest run-scorer in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, amassing 428 runs in nine innings at an impressive average of 61.14 and a strike rate of 186.08. In the Vijay Hazare Trophy, he scored 226 runs, maintaining an average of 56.50 and a strike rate of 107.10.

Despite being finalists three times, RCB are yet to win the IPL title, with their last appearance in the final coming in 2016. They’ve reached the playoffs in four of the last five seasons, including in 2024, when they secured a spot in the top four by winning their last six league matches, only to lose in the eliminator.

With Patidar’s appointment, Kolkata Knight Riders and Delhi Capitals remain the only teams yet to announce their captains for the upcoming season.

Shreyas Iyer, who captained KKR last year, will now lead Punjab Kings, while former DC captain Rishabh Pant will captain Lucknow Super Giants.

Rajat Patidar to lead RCB in IPL 2025 and Virat Kohli had a special message for him.© BCCI

Salem (Tamil Nadu):

A dominant Tamil Nadu kept one foot on the knock-out door with a commanding 209 run victory over Chandigarh in a group D match of the Ranji Trophy here on Sunday. Left-arm spinners Ajith Ram (4/89 in 19 overs) and R Sai Kishore (4/62 in 21 overs) shared bulk of spoils as Chandigarh were shot out for 193 in pursuit of an improbable 403 on the final day. Veteran Manan Vohra carried his bat through with an unbeaten 100 but eight of his batters failed to reach double digits.

Tamil Nadu now have 25 points from six games. In their final group match against Jharkhand in Jamshedpur, they will need at least one point to secure their qualification for the next stage of the National First-Class Championship.

Group D has presented some intriguing possibilities with an open-ended points table. Despite the defeat, Chandigarh remains in contention with 19 points and a final game against Chattisgarh in Raipur where they need to win outright (25) or with a bonus point (26) to remain in contention for knock-out stages.

In case they get a first innings lead (22 points), it could be curtains for them considering the quality of opposition in the last round for Tamil Nadu and Saurashtra.

Saurashtra, which beat Delhi in just one and half days are currently third in the table with 18 points and have the best chance of getting another seven on an under-prepared track at Rajkot where they will get Assam as an opposition.

In a situation where Tamil Nadu lose their match outright and Saurashtra win with bonus points, both will be on 25 points. It will then be decided on NRR as both TN and Saurashtra have two bonus point victories in league stages.

As far as Delhi (14 points) and Railways (17 points) are concerned, they both need bonus points in theory but that might not be enough in the end.

Bihar vs Uttar Pradesh

Left-arm spinner Shivam Sharma picked up five wickets as Uttar Pradesh bowled out Bihar for 236 to secure an innings and 119-run victory, their first in six games, in the Ranji Trophy Elite Group C match here on Sunday.

Needing 225 runs to force Uttar Pradesh to bat again, Bihar resumed their second innings at 130 for 5, hoping for a remarkable recovery to salvage a draw. However, they could manage only 106 more runs before being dismissed.

Uttar Pradesh, who had declared their first innings at a massive 603 for 2, put up a clinical bowling performance to finish off Bihar’s innings with ease.

Overnight batters Ayush Loharuka and Sachin Kumar put up a dogged show in the first session, taking Bihar to 176 for 5 in 71 overs. But Shivam Sharma made the crucial breakthrough when he trapped Loharuka in front after lunch, triggering a collapse.

Sachin completed his half-century before being run out by Shivam Mavi, as Bihar slipped to 191 for 7. Sharma then took the wickets of Himanshu Singh (16) and Nawaz Khan (0) off successive deliveries in the 88th over, with skipper Veer Pratap Singh (29) being the last man dismissed.

With this win, Uttar Pradesh gained seven points, bringing their total to 13, and moved to fifth place in Group C. Haryana (26 points) are on top of the group, followed by Karnataka (19).

Meanwhile, Bihar, after suffering their fifth loss, remain at the bottom of the table.

Uttar Pradesh will meet Madhya Pradesh, while Bihar next play Kerala in their final game.

Kerala vs Madhya Pradesh

Kerala fought valiantly to secure three points, thanks to their first-innings lead, after drawing their Group C match against Madhya Pradesh in Thiruvananthapuram.

Set a daunting target of 363 to win, Kerala began the final day at 28 for 1 but quickly found themselves in trouble, slipping to 47 for 5. However, a spirited lower-order fightback helped them finish at 268 for 8, saving the match and securing the points.

Mohammad Azharuddeen (68) and Jalaj Saxena (32) provided the initial resistance with a 74-run partnership before the latter was dismissed.

Azharuddeen then joined forces with Aditya Sarwate (80), and together they added 90 more runs, keeping Kerala in the hunt.

Azharuddeen’s departure, clean bowled by pacer Kuldeep Sen (3/64), brought Baba Aparajith to the crease, and he, along with Sarwate, added another 37 runs.

Sarwate’s dismissal by Kumar Kartikeya (3/106) didn’t deter Aparajith, who, along with number 10 MD Nidheesh (4), held firm to salvage the draw.

With this result, Kerala accumulated 18 points, occupying third place, while Madhya Pradesh, with 10 points, remained near the bottom of the table.

Brief Scores

In Salem: Tamil Nadu 301 and 305/5. Chandigarh 204 and (target 403) 193 (Manan Vohra 100, Ajith Ram 4/89, R Sai Kishore 4/62). TN won by 209 runs. Points: TN 6. Chandigarh 0.

In Guwahati: Railways 250 and 124/5 (B Vivek Singh 52). Assam 216 ( Kunal Yadav 5/65, Himanshu Sangwan 4/59).

Match Drawn. Points: Railways 3. Assam 1.

In Jamshedpur: Chattisgarh 230 and 250 (Anuj Tiwary 66, Ashutosh Singh 64, Vikash Singh 4/30).

Jharkhand 376 and (target 105) 105/2 (Kumar Suraj 59 not out). Jharkhand won by 8 wickets.

Points: Jharkhand 6. Chattisgarh 0. PTI 

In Patna: Bihar 248 & 236 in 90.4 overs (Sachin Kumar 50; Shivam Sharma 5/58) lost by an innings and 119 runs to Uttar Pradesh 603 for 2 declared.

In Thiruvananthapuram: Madhya Pradesh 160 & 369 for 8 declared in 101 overs drew with Kerala 167 and 268 for 8 in 104 overs (Mohammed Azharuddeen 68, Aditya Sarwate 80; Kuldeep Sen 3/64).

Rajat Patidar‘s international career did not take off as he would have liked, but the Madhya Pradesh batter is confident of “re-creating” the opportunity through domestic matches and don the India jersey again. Patidar’s six innings against England earlier this year produced just 63 runs, but the right-hander has shown impressive touch in the first half of the Ranji Trophy and the ongoing Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. “I enjoyed going to the Test team. But sometimes I feel bad that I missed the opportunity. But it’s alright sometimes things don’t go your way,” Patidar said during an interaction here on Saturday.

Patidar has accepted his “failure” and has moved away from that disappointing space.

“I think acceptance is the key. You have to accept that there will be failure in the cricketing journey. So, it’s important for me to face it and learn from it.

“I have just accepted it and I am moving forward. It’s a part and parcel of the game. I can re-create the opportunity,” he added.

In that context, the 31-year-old has taken a bold first step, scoring a good amount of runs in domestic tournaments.

From five Ranji Trophy matches, the Madhya Pradesh captain has made 427 runs at an average of 53.37 with a hundred and a fifty.

Patidar is also the third highest run-getter in the ongoing SMAT behind Ajinkya Rahane (432) and Bihar’s Sakibul Gani (353) with 347 runs from nine matches at a strike-rate of 182.63 with four fifties.

The powerful right-hander said trusting his skills was the reason behind his good run.

“I am just trying to back my strength in the areas where I am going to hit, like I was doing in the last couple of years. I am just trying to find out the same pattern that I was playing in the IPL.

“My mantra is to play one ball at a time. I try to put my impact on the opposition for my team. I don’t try to get big scores. I have never paid attention to that,” he said.

Patidar also received a confidence-booster when Royal Challengers Bengaluru retained him ahead of the IPL auction.

“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’s name is doing rounds within RCB circles as their prospective captain for IPL 2025 after the franchise released Faf du Plessis.

He was open to that challenge.

“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,” he said.

However, Patidar has an immediate goal to accomplish, guiding Madhya Pradesh to their maiden SMAT title against Mumbai on Sunday at a venue where they won the Ranji Trophy two seasons ago.

Incidentally, they had beaten Mumbai that time and Patidar had made 122 in MP’s six-wicket victory.

The captaincy sits light on his shoulders.

“I have learnt a lot out of it. I have enjoyed learning the tactics. I love seeing players and anticipating what they can do.

“I have learnt a lot about captaincy from my coach (Chandrakant Pandit). Everybody knows that he is the best coach in India,” he said.