RCB’s Rajat Patidar. File
| Photo Credit: MURALI KUMAR K

Royal Challenger’s Bangalore (RCB) named Rajat Patidar as its new captain for the upcoming 2025 Indian Premier League season on Thursday (February 13, 2025).

Former RCB skipper and star batsman Virat Kohli in a video message on X said, “Myself and the other team members will be right behind you.”

“The way you have grown in this franchise and the way you have performed, you’ve made a place in the hearts of all RCB fans. This is very well deserved,” Kohli added.

Patidar was signed up by RCB in 2021. The right-handed batter has represented the team in 27 IPL games, scoring 799 runs at an average of 34.74.

Patidar was among RCB’s retained players ahead of the auction and has the experience of leading Madhya Pradesh in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and Vijay Hazare Trophy.

The 31-year-old Patidar had guided Madhya Pradesh to the SMAT final where they lost to Mumbai by five wickets.

He was also the second-highest run-getter, behind Ajinkya Rahane, with 428 from 10 matches at an average of 61 and a strike rate of 186.08.