IPL 2025: Rajat Patidar appointed as RCB captain

Rajat Patidar has been appointed as the new captain of Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) for the 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL) season. The franchise made the announcement at an event at the KSCA on Thursday, February 13.

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Patidar takes over from Faf du Plessis, who was released by the team ahead of the season. With no clear leadership candidate after du Plessis’ departure, RCB has turned to the 31-year-old middle-order batter, who recently led Madhya Pradesh to the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy final. He becomes the eighth player to captain the franchise.

Having debuted in the IPL in 2021, Patidar has been a key part of RCB’s batting lineup. He has played 27 matches, amassing 799 runs at an impressive strike rate of 158.85. His ability to handle both pace and spin makes him a vital asset.

Ahead of the mega auction, Patidar was among RCB’s three retentions, alongside Virat Kohli and Yash Dayal. He was retained for INR 11 crore, highlighting the franchise’s faith in his abilities.

With Patidar at the helm, RCB will look to build a strong squad and challenge for their maiden IPL title in the upcoming season.